I love being up before anyone else. The house is quiet. No noise. No whining. No pressures of the day yet weighing on me. Well maybe, but I'm ignoring them. One by one young people wake up and give me a hug and a good morning and a smile. Even baby Kit will give me a smile. Usually Tin tells me he has a headache and needs to watch some Betty Boop so it will go away. Usually I say ok. I think that is about to change. Last night we ordered satellite TV. Its been nearly 1 year since we've had any tv reception, 3 years since we had more than 2 channels. Little in this world is all good or all bad, and Television is simply a tool. It has good programing and bad. Commercials are some of the worst programming as it gives a kid (or adult) with a bad case of the gimmes more fodder. Nothing we have is ever good enough, we have to have more. It has to be newer, bigger, smaller, smarter, faster. I worry about the ensuing battles, but maybe it will open their eyes. I remember when Colin had the great epiphany, "They just want you to buy their stuff." There is some great programming too. We learned much from the History and the Discovry channel. It was after watching a show on the Edmund Fitzgerald that we went to Duluth and Colin already knew most of what we saw, but it was so real for him. There is much good information on the airwaves, certainly more educational that "Betty Boop" or "Popeye". And entertainment has value too. We look forward to watching GLEE or even the new Scrubs. Chris likes to point out with the DVR we can watch shows later, we are not a slave to the tv. And that is where my worry is. TV is a time waster. In a family where we never have time, how can we give away more? And yet we watch movies. Too often in my opinion, so it should not detract too much on that front, unless we start watching during the day. Sometimes it could be helpful, and beneficial even. But then 1 show becomes 2 and "gee this looks interesting: and before you know it an afternoon or evening is gone. My biggest concern is me. I'm am not immune to the power of television. I find stuff interesting or amusing or apalling. I enjoy the escape television provides. Its easier to say yes than deal with the fights of saying "time to turn it off". I know what I need to do. And I know I can do it. For myself and the children. Having television in the house again will be a change. I must admit it will be nice over the winter months. I just hope we make this a change for the better.