How Far Outside The Box Do I Want To Be??

I love eating organically and hate vaccinating my kids. And yet, I buy about 1/3 organically, mostly for Maddie since I'm concerned about her weight vs. chemicals, and I've always compromised on vaccines. I wish there was another way, but I agree with the concept of wanting our bodies to have antibodies and I certainly don't want to have to get them through true experiences, I just wish there was another way. :)

I've always been different. I've always thought differently than my friends and family. And oddly enough, I've never chosen to seek out and surround myself with others who believe like me. I've just always maintained that I was different, broken even sometimes, and that this was my life.

It's almost a daily event that I try and decide how I want to influence my kids, how much of me I want them to have, i.e., how different do I want them to be from the norm. Sadly, I'm willing to compromise, understanding that being different isn't always fun, and I'd rather my kids made this decision for themselves rather than I carve it in stone for them.

I'm taking a long time to explain....

Friday night Jeremy commented on my green beans, pretty much saying they sucked. Now, I make the best green beans and I'll admit, I did make them differently, so I wasn't insulted by his remark, but I was a parent in a teachable moment. He lost his tv privileges for the night. He pouted, he stomped around, he threw a fit, and then he settled on the couch. I laid down next to him, placing my head on his leg and we began talking about the word, "gay." He had used it just recently.

I explained to him that his brother, Austin, who's a teenager has lost all control over his brain and now can only mutter a few, simple, disgruntle words such as: shut up, you're dump, and gay. Now, my son is not prejudice and has a few friends who are gay and he himself even likes to take on some feminine characteristics, I think just for the attention, but you know.

*Side moment*

I was a bit embarrassed when I had to approach the Target workers and ask if they carried girly colored socks in men's sizes (12) since my son enjoyed wearing them so. They looked at me oddly, that's when the awkwardness came in, and just nicely shook their heads no. Just Austin's way of being different, I guess. :)

So, Jeremy got a great laugh out of my Austin's teenage brain talk. And then Austin ends up on the couch with us, leaving his computer game...WOW, and had some male bonding which involved beating up his little brother. We laughed and played and had a great night...without the TV.

It hit me yesterday while sitting in class, we'll take 6 months off from tv. We'll have to reinvent our evenings to which it will involve outside time, more games, and I was even thinking we could have a Saturday Family Movie Night. :) I just want more family time, less zombie time in front of the tube, which isn't even a tube anymore, but you know, more of that time I had Friday night.

And, yes, you can comment, "well, just turn off the tv," but it's much harder to do that than if it just didn't exist. Sadly, Sean was not really on board for he would miss his GLEE show. Yes, he is a musical man. :)

So, what do you think? Anyone out there without a tv? Any other "living outside the boxes"? :) I'd love to hear how you do it and how it all goes. :)