My husband’s parenting requires a TV.

“That’s the only way I can keep him with me so he doesn’t look for you,” he says.

The rare times I’m not with Lincoln when we’re at home, I’m making dinner or lunches or taking a shower. It’s those times I (politely) ask the hubs to keep an eye on Linc. Sure enough, before I’m even fully out of the room I hear the “Yo Gabba Gabba”/”Caillou”/Something-or-other theme song.

I hate it.

Honestly, I thought I’d be the one who turned to the TV for help entertaining Linc. I love TV—LOVE IT! I must confess that it’s on all the time, but Linc and I are usually doing something else other than watching it.

The thing I hate most is that when they’re watching TV together, there’s no talking. No interaction--just staring at the screen in silence. (Come to think of it, that’s the way my dad and I spent a lot of our quality time when I was growing up. Maybe it’s not so bad?)

Would this bother you? I feel like my husband doesn’t know exactly what to do with Linc or, worse, he’s given up trying to find something to do. I guess TV is their thing?

I won’t dare tell my husband this by the way. I would DIE if he said anything negative about my efforts to parent and figure out what to do with a two-year-old, but, really, I think he could get more creative and rely less on the boob-tube.

What do you think? What do you do if the other parent works in a way you don't approve of?

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Erin Hill is a first-time mom to Lincoln, who was born in January 2010. She's learning as she goes and is experiencing everything a new mom goes through while seeing the humor, irony, and enjoyment in her adventures.

Erin is a full-time technical writer and features freelance writer in her "spare time." She lives in Plum with Lincoln, her husband, Adam, their dog, Roxie, and five (yes, five) cats, Nirvana, Gary Roberts, Elvis, Talbot and Forrest.