No cable=Focus

We bought a t.v. last Friday to replace our old one and our cable input is now gone (it took them a few days to come out after canceling it).  I have to admit, when we got the new t.v. in and everything came in all crisp and shiny, it made me reconsider our decision to disconnect.

Surprisingly, Elias - the one who is the most drawn to the television - has seemed almost like he's glad not to have the option to watch it as much.  He has discovered that choosing what he wants to watch and do is more enjoyable than being sucked into mindlessly watching whatever comes on next.  And, when he is watching something on Netflix, he likes that he can pause whatever he's watching at any time.  He seems less agitated when it is homework time, too, because he's not trying to get finished so he can get to the television.

I haven't missed cable much, but didn't really expect that I would. Several times I've thought about watching something on Netflix in the evenings after the kids go to bed or at lunch time when I would sometimes turn on the t.v. while I ate at the counter, but I often don't feel like it is worth looking for something.  This has made me think about the many times I have mindlessly turned the t.v. on and flipped through the channels until I find something that peaks my interest or at least is the best from what I have to choose from.  I know that if it wasn't so convenient, I would never watch half the things I would end up watching.  - Like "What Not To Wear" or "Mystery Diagnosis" or many shows on Food Network or HGTV.

Do I really care that much about how a stranger changes their appearance?  Am I really going to cook the things on Food Network or go to the restaurants featured? Do I really care about whether a stranger buys, remodels, or sells a house?  The only exception to this is "Mystery Diagnosis" - I know that one day I am going to know someone who has something wrong with them and I will be able to diagnose them with a rare disorder or syndrome because I watched this show - just wait and see and hope you aren't that unlucky person who I have to break the news to!  There isn't anything wrong with these shows or watching cable, it just isn't a necessary part of my life right now.

But if I want to watch a show on Food Network, I can now go onto their website and choose to watch it when I want to watch it - without commercials - and I don't have to flip past a celebrity or political scandal, scantily-clad women, or a sensationalized reality show to get to what I want to watch.  Since my word for this year is "Focus",I think getting rid of cable will be a great way for me to focus my entertainment choices and the kids exposure to entertainment as well.