Turn Off Week

We recently took a challenge from the April 2011 issue of FamilyFun Magazine. Turnoff Week. No TV, computer, etc. etc. for a week. I prepared by cueing up a week’s worth of blog posts and set them to post one every day while I was off. Jeremy still needed to use the computer for work, but no facebook games or hulu.com in the background. We had a couple instances where we did use the computer as a family during the week, though. One was to watch a video that went along with our scripture study (it was special for Easter). The second was to watch the premiere of Part One of the documentary, Working with Bubbles (work related).

But there was no sitting in front of a screen, wasting time.
The first day was kind of rough. The kids and I were having trouble getting along. It felt like there was no point in doing the turnoff thing, it wasn’t helping us at all and I couldn’t even get a break from the kids’ attitudes to get on the computer or watch a show.
Then the next day came. The kids knew we were planning on doing a Passover dinner so they were looking forward to that. They even helped make the unleavened bread.

Everybody started being nicer while we did this special activity together.
Without the distractions of TV and computer, we were able to focus on more important things. I was able to focus on more important things. I took Jr. (and sometimes Jr. Jr. as well) out every day, either to go shopping or to play at the mall while Jeremy was working at home.

We played more non-electronic games.

Jeremy even taught the kids how to set up a chess board (Jr. had his own way of doing it).

We played dress up.

Nichole's ballet bear got to try on a new outfit (which she's had since Christmas. Thanks Mom and Dad T.) and join Nichole for a tea party.

We used our creativity. Nichole ate like a mouse and Jr. sculpted an "E" out of his toast, one that sat upright on his plate.

We played "Cinderella.”

We tried some new foods.

Jr. Jr. even tried peas for the first time.

We decorated Easter Eggs… with crayons.

Jr. even decorated himself.

Nichole had her Easter party at school.

Unfortunately, we did have some sad times. We didn’t always get along, though I was definitely more patient that week than I had been for some time before. Some of us took turns not feeling so well.

Jeremy and I talked about how the end of the week was very different from the beginning. It was so hard in the beginning, it almost didn’t seem worth it. But things did improve. It reminded us of a talk given by President Uchtdorf in the April 2009 General Conference.
He had a friend who was struggling with his testimony. President Uchtdorf suggested some things for his friend to do. His friend practically gave up after only one week. It wasn’t working for him. I knew I couldn’t give up on this Turnoff Week if it wasn’t working after only one day.

Overall, I’d say the Turnoff Week was beneficial for all of us. Too bad the first thing we did Monday morning was get on the computer to make comments on the family blog.

We’re going to have to work on figuring out a balance.
So if I don’t blog as much for a while, know I’m trying to figure out that balance.

It was a good family week.