Meanest Mom in the World...Take Two

Just an update on my bid for "Meanest Mom" two years running -

Today I have achieved new status by outlawing media in our house.  Let me back up. 

This semester has been tough in more ways than one and it has seen a steady decline in the state of my house and a sharp rise in the amount of time spent by minors in front of a screen of one type or another.  I have to admit, I have had too many days when that has been easier due to the sheer amount of things I needed to accomplish that were easier to manage with the children's attention so undivided.  But I also noticed that my kids, who have always had enormous imaginations, were losing the ability to entertain each other for longer than about 5 minutes.  My ears were growing accustomed to the sounds of whining (I'm bored!  She played longer than me!  When is it my turn?) and shrieks of dismay when time limits were set.  I have been struggling with the balance between the good of media and the bad of time eaten by it.

This morning it came to a head.  Dad is at work and the children got up, turned on the t.v., then proceeded to argue amongst themselves and with me who would play the computer first and whine if they were chosen to go last.  As I sat drowning in the cacophony of screams and crying, I surveyed the ever-growing piles of "organized" chaos surrounding us.  And then my conclusion was reached.  Time for serious intervention! 

The plan is simple.  There is a list of 10 things that MUST be done before media comes back on in our home.  These things are the tasks I have not gotten to and could use some help with, over and above their regular half an hour responsibilities for the day - clean out the storage room, clean the fridge, organize the videos, etc.  I'm sure any mother can imagine the things I came up with.  They are the deciding factor in how quickly this will be done.  If they help, we might just get done today.  If not, it could take me two, three, four days...

The cries of outrage increased for a few minutes.  Then they realized mom was serious.  I could see their plans of lazing around all Christmas holidays evaporate into thin air right before them.  I saw the disappointment, the anger, the frustration.  But I reached way down into my Meanest Mom reservoir and stood firm.  It only took about ten minutes before little hands began finding things they could help with.  And I saw the glimmer of hope return to those baby blues as they saw the end was not so far away - if we all work together.

As I write this, a few things on our list have been accomplished.  Not too many, but I don't mind.  Because the sounds of "X-Men Olympics" in my living room are music to my ears.  They are imagining again!  They are playing together again!  I knew it would be like riding a bike.  I am reveling in this beautiful, somewhat noisy but joyous moment of Christmas music and free play.  Because, although a spotless house is something I sometimes dream about, this really was the goal all along.  Entertained without being entertained.  I AM the Meanest Mom in the whole world, but it's worth it!