Relocating to a new city is overwhelming, but juggling a work-from-home job with three kids at school and one little one at home is a whole new level of chaos. Searching for potential playmates for my lonely four-year-old feels like a daunting task—sometimes I wonder if I should have had another child just to keep her entertained. It’s a frustrating cycle.
Once upon a time, I was a dedicated parent. I organized playdates, coordinated stylish outfits for my boys, and maintained a structured bath time routine complete with age-appropriate toys. Our days were packed with trips to the library, and I proudly crafted homemade play dough and facilitated messy finger painting sessions. I was determined to cram 18 years of parenting into those initial four years of my first child’s life.
My steadfast rule? My kids could watch no more than the recommended two hours of TV daily. (Okay, maybe there were a couple of days when it crept to three.) I was adamant about avoiding any questionable shows like SpongeBob or the overly violent Power Rangers, and I had my doubts about Sesame Street contributing to the rise of ADD and Autism. Instead, my children were limited to a carefully curated selection of Barney, Baby Einstein, and the occasional Disney movie—only if it was raining.
Amid all the public library visits and meticulously planned playdates, I learned the crucial lesson of pacing myself.
Fast forward a decade. Now, I find myself at home with my youngest child, the final addition to the family, who is just a year away from that wonderful place known as Public School. I wish I could say she has an active social life filled with playdates and zoo outings, but honestly, I’m far too tired and overwhelmed to seek out other energetic mothers who still manage to bathe their children daily.
So, what do you do with the last kid? You let them indulge in whatever shows they fancy on TV, while providing crayons and cardboard boxes to keep them occupied. A few Cheerios scattered on the floor, a trickle of water for her to experiment with, and the latest episode of Baby Bratz? Boom—four hours of work with minimal complaints. Thanks to my trusty smartphone, I can effortlessly switch her viewing options without leaving my desk.
We aim for educational shows like Super Why and Daniel Tiger to ensure she’s picking up letters and life lessons, but six hours of preschool a week hardly fills her schedule. So, I’m done feeling guilty. By some miracle, she’s picked up writing letters and numbers and even teaches herself to tie her shoes. Honestly, limiting screen time for my second child didn’t prevent Autism, so I’m not overly concerned about this little one’s development.
As mothers, we often have to do what’s necessary. At four years old, I spent my days at my dad’s real estate office because my mom had to return to work. There were no iPads or DVDs—just me and some ancient filing cabinets in the back room. It was a challenging year until my father bought a “VCR” and a single video that I watched repeatedly. That experience was transformative; I can still recite every line from Charlotte’s Web!
I refuse to beat myself up for the fact that my last child spends a year at home without a sibling to play with. I can’t be her constant playmate, and I reject the pressure to engage in educational games all day long. My days of intensive involvement are behind me. If she wants me to look after her dolls during their naptime, I’m all in. Otherwise, let’s see if we can learn a little Spanish from Dora today, shall we?
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Summary:
In the chaotic world of parenting, especially while trying to work from home, it’s easy to let screen time expand beyond our original intentions. As a mother of four, I’ve learned to adapt my expectations and embrace the reality of allowing my youngest to enjoy her screen time. While I once stressed over limiting TV for my older kids, I now recognize that every child’s journey is unique, and sometimes, a little extra screen time is just what you need to get through the day.
Keyphrase: Parenting with TV
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