Buy Up The Time

A couple months into the school year I realized that I had to make some changes.  Answering the question, "Can I play Wii now?" and "Can I watch a show?" a hundred times a day was wearing thin.  Something drastic had to be done.   

I was inspired by a few homeschool bloggers who have no TV and no video games.  That, however, is not our reality so I asked a homeschooling friend (who actually has a TV and a Wii system), "What are your rules during the school day?"  

My first solution consisted of limiting Calvin's Wii until afternoon.  We finish the majority of our school work during the morning.  And I was hesitant to turn off the TV in the morning because Andrew would often watch a few shows while we were working on school. 

As you might expect, there were two major problems with this "solution."  First, if Andrew was watching TV (even in the other room), Calvin would often get distracted and beg, "I want to watch Curious George, too!"  Even with the volume turned down, his ears would perk up, he would lose focus on his handwriting and he would start singing the Martha Speaks theme-song.  Secondly, Calvin's new questions (that he still asked a hundred times a day) became, "How long until I can play Wii?" and "Does afternoon mean after noon or just after lunch....because I'm hungry now."

It was about that time that Ephesians 5:15-17 crossed my path.  I searched multiple versions and each one confirmed the same sentiment.

Don't waste your time on useless work...

Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly.

Be very careful how you live...

...buying up each opportunity...

...making the best use of your time...

...making the most of every opportunity...

Live purposefully and worthily and accurately...

With renewed purpose and intentionality I changed the order of our day again.  We do not live totally unplugged.  We still fritter away time.  But this framework seems to be working much better. 

No TV in the morning. 

Limited TV in the afternoon and evening (about 2-3 hours total). 

No Wii during the week.  

After a few days of, "This is the most boring-est day ever!" we settled into our new routine. 

I discovered that Calvin is much more interested in exploring and experimenting and creating when he isn't distracted by how many minutes he has to waste until he can play a video games.  And Andrew has surprised me with how easily he can find things to occupy his time.

But I won't lie...it takes a lot more work on my part!  The word "intentional" is very popular right now, but it is appropriately descriptive.  I have to intentionally plan outings, crafts, kitchen experiments and reading time.  I have to be present to push swings and use the big shovel and make sure the baby doesn't choke on a Nerf dart.  I have to intentionally turn off the computer, avoid getting on the phone and put my reading aside.  

But the rest of the Ephesians passage says: 

These are desperate times! 

...the days are evil. 

...understand what the will of the Lord is.

...understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is.

On the grand scale, I know it is worth it.  Ten years down the road, I think we'll be able to see the value of investing hours during the day in reading and playing and making.  But there is value and joy and fun and satisfaction in today too.  Sometimes it's just hard to see because of the mess, and the lost "me-time," and did I mention the mess.

Here is some fun from the past few months that probably wouldn't have happened if we were plugged in.

Giddy smiles of surprise when baking soda and vinegar do their work.     

Understanding the mechanics of building a better mouse-trap.

Cutting paper into A LOT of small pieces.

Cutting paper into gingerbread men.

 Pencil drawing of a park.  Complete with flowers, a cactus, a pond, a dog and dinosaur bones.

The satisfaction of finding an earth worm and sharing it with cousins.

Hugging and kissing an amaryllis bulb and watching it grow.

Play-Doh creatures. (Don't tell the mouse we have a mouse-trap.)

Building a better rabbit-trap! And adding the right bait.

Cars and trucks all lined up. 

Calvin made up a memory verse and read it to me with authority. 

Since his theology was right-on I helped him look up the supporting scripture.

Managing TV and Wii time is just one way that I've tried to buy up the time.  I have lots of lists and charts. I have tried daily plans and weekly plans; personal chores and family chores.  I have tried to be rigid and I've tried a go-with-the-flow attitude.  Many are beneficial for a season or a specific task, but I am always on the look-out for ideas and methods that work for others.  

How do you intentionally make the best use of your time?