I confess

My kids watch way more tv than they should and it is all due to my lazy parenting. It is one thing to tell my friends that, an another to share it with the world. I have used the tv as a babysitter for as long as I can remember. I really suck as a parent and I really don't want my kids to grow up and remember me as the mom who was there, but not really there for them. Sure, I get up in the morning make them breakfast, turn on the tv, take care of their needs and then go back to sleep. I take them to the park or a museum, I take them on adventures, but when we are at home the tv is on. I decided today that we were going to have a no tv day and told Porter this. Porter turned the tv on twice in a 30 min period before he went to school, but quickly turned it off when he remembered. After school today he asked me a few times to watch a show and I just told him that it was a no tv day. He played outside just for a little while, we played battling cards, read books and he played in his room by himself, something he rarely does. I was honestly shocked that he did so well and I got a lot more done and played with my kids more. I remember when I used to babysit and I would tell myself that I would be the kind of mom that sat and played with their kids and watch movies with them. It is sad to me that I have chosen to use the tv as a replacement. This is really hard for me to write. I want to be a better mom, I want them to remember me as a mom who was there with them actively engaging in their lives. I say to you my kids, my husband, my family, my friends, my readers that I am going to make a change and be a better parent.