by Kendall Smith

Created on: October 08, 2007   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

There is nothing on. I heard that day after day from my children. We were paying $70.00 a month for cable TV and they still said there was nothing to watch. The programs they were watching were really stretching the definition of entertainment.

One day I was sitting with my youngest watching what was supposed to be a cartoon for pre-schoolers and I was just shocked at the content of the program. Right then and there I called the Cable Company and cancelled our service. We bought an inexpensive antenna so we could get local stations and have been cable free ever since.

We still get the major networks and a PBS station, so we aren't like cut off from the world. My pre-schooler can watch appropriate cartoons on the PBS station and on Saturday morning. My older children can watch their favorite prime time shows in the evenings.

The really amazing part of not having 400 channels of junk programming to surf is that my kids actually go outside, or play with each other. We spend more time as a family and have fewer attitude problems. I don't have as many arguments about getting homework done either. Since there is nothing on TV they have nothing better to do.

Honestly it was the best thing we could have done for our family. I grew up with only 3 channels to watch so I knew my kids would not die like they were claiming. It has been about a year now and everyone is still alive and kicking. The atmosphere in our home is calmer and more relaxed.

I have to admit I wasn't 100% sure that going cable free would be a good thing. Now I can honestly say there are much better things to do with your time then sit in front of the TV and vegetate. If you can work up the nerve to pull the cable plug your family will be better balanced and stronger for it.

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