U-verse or U-nature?

"Why do so many Americans say they want their children to watch less TV, yet continue to expand thhe opportunities for them to watch it? More important, why do so many people no longer consider the physical world worth watching? The highway's edges may not be postcard perfect. But for a century, children's early understanding of how cities and nature fit together was gained from the backseat: the empty farmhouse at the edge of the subdivision; the variety of architecture, here and there; the woods and fields and water beyond the seamy edges--all that was and is still available to the eye. This was the landscape that we watched as children. It was our drive-by movie."

~Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv

Ironically, as I'm reading this book, we are embarking on a new journey in our family...the installation of AT&T's U-verse! For many years, we have resisted cable--and honestly--we had to drop a couple of other small monthly luxuries in order to afford it--so cost has always been a determining factor as well. We will have to remain extra-diligent in turning OFF the TV, and monitoring what our children watch. As they grow, we are interested in some additional educational shows (such as Animal Planet and Discovery network offerings). My husband and I, for a variety of reasons, do not often go out on dates together. However, we adopted a couple of weekly shows that we enjoy watching together and we call that time "dates". Sometimes, we have a special dessert together, or pick up take out, just for us (after kids are in bed). The trouble is, the times and/or nights of our chosen shows are not usually convenient; enter DVR capabilities! No more hustling children off without a story, because it's "date night"; no more impatience as we struggle to have everyone peacefully sleeping by an early hour. We can use technology to our own advantage to assist in marital bliss and keeping the peace simultaneously!

Last year, we happened to be otherwise engaged on the evenings in which kids' seasonal Christmas specials were aired. Not important, true, but something from our own childhoods that we enjoy passing along to our young ones. This year, we will DVR the shows to watch when we have time.

Last year, my husband missed all but one or two Husker football games; because our local programming doesn't generally air that team's games. This year, he can enjoy them, and even DVR them if he's working on the air date. Then watch them commercial free!

And so, tomorrow, we have U-verse installed! There are some other great features; like faster internet than we currently have, for the same price (yea bundling!)...we can upload photos to Flickr then watch them on our TV...a caller's name will pop up on our TV if we're watching and we can decide whether or not to take the call (great for those date nights, or movie nights, or whatever!)...and since we rarely go to the movies, we can pay-per-view a newer release with our children, for MUCH less than a trip to the theater!

During the hot and humid weeks of Summer, when mosquito bites cover us, if we venture outdoors (like now...my kids are done out there after only 15 minutes!), some educational (or just for fun) programming may help with peace-keeping. Same thing when it's too cold to go out in Winter, or when everyone is nursing the inevitable head-cold.

So we are all pretty enthused about U-verse...but as I read the above book, I am reminded to be vigilant in keeping outdoor time a priority whenever possible, despite the lures of modern TV!