The day had finally come. It was a Friday. Our 42” plasma TV lost its power. The very first thing that came to my selfish mind was – “No TV? What’s next?” It is not that I am a TV addict. Ever since I have children, I have lost my connection with TV programmes. I barely have time for myself, not to mention having the luxury in front of the TV. Of course, there were times when I must watch my “Deal or No Deal”. That aside, it was really the kids. What were they going to do without the TV!? What was going to happen to my peace!?
“Looks like the board is faulty, we’ll have to change the board,” the TV repairman said. Huh? I thought my plasma TV was barely two years old! I remembered that my good old 29” TV could last me a good 10 years without failing me. “Things are more complex these days. Those days we could solder but now, the chips and parts are so small and usually, you have to replace the whole board and…” he continued as he started wrapping my TV with cellophane paper. Great, there went my hundreds of dollars on the repair job that could have bought me a CRT TV that could last ten years. I wondered if I got a good deal here.
After the TV was gone, I stared at the empty space on top of the bench and thought what I could replace it with. As quick-minded as I could be, I thought we could move the 14” CRT TV from my bedroom to the living room as a substitute for the time being.
Indeed, there was a huge contrast but I was really pleased that the kids would still have their TV! What a smart move!
“What a small TV!” grumbled my six-year-old son as he shifted himself from the seat restlessly.
“Wah, TV so small one,” muttered my three-year-old son as he propped himself onto his favourite seat and started watching the shows nonchalantly.
My one-year-old son just stretched out his hands and started touching the buttons in front. He looked happiest of the lot. After all, there were buttons on this one and none on the other one.
I wondered if it was a deliberate effort on my husband’s part. He told my six-year-old son that he was not able to connect the Xbox to this TV. Great, I thought, now I would not have any peace.
Saturday came and my eldest child started pestering me for something to do. Hubby was busy with some work and while the other two children were napping, I had to think of something real quick. He said no to drawing, colouring, worksheets and his usual toys.
“How about a walk with mummy?” I finally suggested.
“Ok!”
For once, I was glad the TV did not interest him. He would usually be glued to the TV and would not even go out for walks with me!
We went to Tiong Bahru Plaza where there was this little corner on “Kampung Spirit, Kampung Fun”. Bless the souls who thought of the HeritageFest event and setting up such a perfect corner! I showed him the games I used to play when I was young like him.
“Why do they call these five stones? They are bean bags, not stones.”
“You mean the toilet is in the little hut?”
“Can you buy me Kuti Kuti? I like the colourful marbles too. How about we buy them next Saturday?”
I must say that even I was learning as I attempted to answer those questions.
Back home, I took out the “Pick-up-Sticks” which I had bought some time ago, thinking that it would be a toy I would introduce to the children one day. By then, my second boy had woken up. As I showed my two boys the game, I felt a sense of achievement as a mother. I felt peace even though there was no TV to engage the boys. The boys enjoyed the game and strangely, so did I.
The TV would soon be repaired and sent back home. “When the TV is back, what should I do with the TV?” In my heart, I have quietly decided that I am not going to let the TV, Xbox or whatever, take away my bond and time with my children.
I will bring the children out to look for “Kuti Kuti” next Saturday. I will take out my cherished five stones that I had kept all these twenty over years and show them. Who said the old things were no good? I think they are evergreen, hardy and fun!
Now, what would be spoilt next? Anything but the kids.
And that is a deal.
Article migrated from original My Story Portal 2007.
Author. Chonglynn