The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a child watch absolutely no television until the age of two.
Anyone who has had children can tell you that two years is an awfully long time when you are trying to mold a young, starving mind while keeping your sanity and your life at the same time.
I'd love to live in a world where I could keep my child away from television for two years.
I imagine that it is the same world where nothing but organic, free-range food passes my children's lips.
The same world where my husband and I sit and sip fair trade coffee together while planning our family hikes.
I want to live in that world and as sure as I sit here stuffing Halloween candy down my throat, there are people who do.
These people may even be following the AAP guides for television viewing and for that, they have my utmost respect.
My life with two children under the age of four is absolutely chaotic.
I do my best to feed them well, get some sort of reading accomplished every day and teach them to be proper individuals.
But god knows a lot of things fall through the cracks.
TV is just one of these things.
My boy absolutely loves television.
He wakes up and watches his favorite shows while I try to pull myself together and get the day organized.
He goes to bed at night by watching old episodes of Thomas the Tank on YouTube.
I'm a little ashamed to admit that I don't know what I would do without it.
I am proud to admit however, that his father and I have always been very careful about what he is able to watch.
After three years we discovered that in the sea of seizure-inducing children's programming out there, Thomas the Tank is by far the gentlest and comes complete with a little moral zinger with every new adventure.
We've also discovered the joy of science and nature programs and are proud to say that our three year old will watch a few episodes of How It's Made over a Barney Marathon any day.
That's progress! We've always been hanging over his shoulder to be sure that what his spongy little brain is sucking up isn't too damaging in the long run.
Between Thomas the Tank Engine, the Discovery Channel, and even an episode or two from the History Channel, our son is shaping up to be a pretty well rounded 4 year old.
Certainly more well rounded than his parents were...
ur...
are.
As previously mentioned, I'd love to have the kind of patience it would take to raise children without the help of an easy distraction.
If you are the kind of mom or dad who has been able to keep your child's attention for two years without the aid of television, allow me to bow before you.
I'm not terribly proud when I look at my son's slack jaw as he lazes about on the couch, but at least I can say it's not for long.
And, hey, we have clean clothes and we got a hot meal out of it...
at least on some days...