Sometimes Kids Need a Little TV

I know this isn't a very popular point of view, and I might get crucified for this, but I feel strongly that sometimes kids just need a little TV.  Let me build you a timeline to illustrate my point:

New Year's Eve
7:00 Normal bedtime
9:30 Bedtime on New Year's Eve (Now I realize I should have probably put them in bed earlier, but I have come a long way in my parenting and I feel that sometimes rules can and should be broken for the benefit of tradition and fun.  It was New Year's Eve after all!)

New Year's Day
7:30 Normal wake time
7:30 Wake time on New Year's Day (If you do the math, you will see that they got 2.5 hours less sleep than normal.  Shame on me.  Bad Mommy.)
9:00 Breakfast is over and we have already had about five meltdowns over things like which color of fork is used with cereal.
10:00 We have done 2 craft projects in an an effort to redirect their naughty behavior.  This method did not work and the meltdowns continue, combined with both children making a valiant effort to irritate the other)
10:30 We bundled up and went outside, again an effort to reduce crying and meltdowns
11:03 After lots more crying, even on the beloved slide, I decided that I gave it a valiant effort and I brought everyone inside to watch an episode of Olivia (on Nick Jr.).  I gave them some apples while they watched and I got to clean up Christmas mess in peace.
11:33  Show is over, kids are in a wonderful mood and we spend the next hour and a half happily playing until naptime.

I'm not saying that TV is always the answer.  It shouldn't be on all morning.  It shouldn't be an alternative to "rest time".  But sometimes TV is the only thing that works and I'm not ashamed to admit it!

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