I grew up with the TV on constantly in the backround. I'd often put it on myself, even if I was reading or talking on the phone and not really paying attention to it.
When I had my first child, the TV was on one night as I ate and read the paper. I vaguely heard bounce, bounce, stop, and looked up to see my daughter in an exersaucer, happily playing with toys until she caught sight of the TV. She'd stop what she was doing, glued to the set, until she got distracted by a toy and turned away. I turned the TV off, and only turned it on again if I was actually going to watch it.
When we have visited my parents throughout the years, my kids have commented that the TV is always on, and I would often turn down the volume or ask if anyone is actually watching. It's a tough addiction to break, but even though my kids also grew up watching TV (although not as much as we did), they also don't have the same attachment to it as we did.
Love this. My partner is currently renting a flat with a TV mounted on the bedroom wall. Sure, it might not be what you do in your 'forever' home, but it's made every night so far feel like an indulgent adventure. Like we are living in a hotel but with all the comforts of home.
As a latchkey kid of divorce in the 60’s, I shared a bedroom with my mom (until I was 12 and she remarried and I finally got my own room!), i would fall asleep to the tv in our bedroom. It was the only one I’ve ever seen that had a timer on it! My mother would always fall asleep to the tv being on. Often I’d wake in the night to see a horror show on the screen of either mummies/vampires/zombies rising from graves and I’d cower under the blanket until I eventually fell back asleep. I never let my kids have a tv in their room growing up.
Great reported story, Sari. Growing up in the late '60s and early '70s, we watched TV in the family room -- Bonanza, Lost in Space, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, The Brady Bunch, and Bewitched were staples -- me and my sisters kicking at each other's legs to get a better position on the sofa. No watching in bed, but a lot of shows in the afternoons when we got home from school. The only one my mom wouldn't let us see was Dark Shadows. Too creepy and jarring. Doubt we'd have slept.
We've taken to watching tv on my computer, in bed. We never do that, but since November it's become a thing. Mostly soothing shows: Somebody Somewhere, Inside Man, things that don't tax our nervous systems... that and a melatonin gummy and I'm asleep in 20 minutes. The problem is when I wake up at 3a and cannot go back to sleep. Do I resort to tv then as well?
Love this! I love watching TV in bed and also used to love having it on all the time when I lived alone. It’s such a safe and cozy feeling. I once wrote a researched piece about how comfort watches help put you to sleep and learned, among other things, just the sound of those familiar voices can make us feel less lonely. Awesome post.
I grew up with the TV on constantly in the backround. I'd often put it on myself, even if I was reading or talking on the phone and not really paying attention to it.
When I had my first child, the TV was on one night as I ate and read the paper. I vaguely heard bounce, bounce, stop, and looked up to see my daughter in an exersaucer, happily playing with toys until she caught sight of the TV. She'd stop what she was doing, glued to the set, until she got distracted by a toy and turned away. I turned the TV off, and only turned it on again if I was actually going to watch it.
When we have visited my parents throughout the years, my kids have commented that the TV is always on, and I would often turn down the volume or ask if anyone is actually watching. It's a tough addiction to break, but even though my kids also grew up watching TV (although not as much as we did), they also don't have the same attachment to it as we did.
The picture of you at 4 🥹☺️
<3 <3
Love this. My partner is currently renting a flat with a TV mounted on the bedroom wall. Sure, it might not be what you do in your 'forever' home, but it's made every night so far feel like an indulgent adventure. Like we are living in a hotel but with all the comforts of home.
Sweet!
As a latchkey kid of divorce in the 60’s, I shared a bedroom with my mom (until I was 12 and she remarried and I finally got my own room!), i would fall asleep to the tv in our bedroom. It was the only one I’ve ever seen that had a timer on it! My mother would always fall asleep to the tv being on. Often I’d wake in the night to see a horror show on the screen of either mummies/vampires/zombies rising from graves and I’d cower under the blanket until I eventually fell back asleep. I never let my kids have a tv in their room growing up.
<3
Great reported story, Sari. Growing up in the late '60s and early '70s, we watched TV in the family room -- Bonanza, Lost in Space, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, The Brady Bunch, and Bewitched were staples -- me and my sisters kicking at each other's legs to get a better position on the sofa. No watching in bed, but a lot of shows in the afternoons when we got home from school. The only one my mom wouldn't let us see was Dark Shadows. Too creepy and jarring. Doubt we'd have slept.
We've taken to watching tv on my computer, in bed. We never do that, but since November it's become a thing. Mostly soothing shows: Somebody Somewhere, Inside Man, things that don't tax our nervous systems... that and a melatonin gummy and I'm asleep in 20 minutes. The problem is when I wake up at 3a and cannot go back to sleep. Do I resort to tv then as well?
Same problem at 3am! I take another gummy, but it doesn't always work.
Call me next time! ☎️
😂
Love this! I love watching TV in bed and also used to love having it on all the time when I lived alone. It’s such a safe and cozy feeling. I once wrote a researched piece about how comfort watches help put you to sleep and learned, among other things, just the sound of those familiar voices can make us feel less lonely. Awesome post.
Thanks, Viv. And I love that you have research to back up that comfort.