It started when I was 36 weeks pregnant. I was at the point in my pregnancy where I just didn’t want to move. Unfortunately I had to move because life needed to be lived and bills needed to be paid, but in those moments where I could chill – I wanted to watch the most mindless trash shows on television.
Around that 36th week of pregnancy, my husband was also in this super frugal phase. He decided to cut all unnecessary expenses, including cable (gasp!). Considering the cable bill was north of a hundred dollars, I was all for it. He suggested we stream television through the internet for a few bucks a month. That’s how Netflix entered my life.
My relationship with Netflix started relatively casually, an episode here and there, nothing too serious. Then all of a sudden I was hooked. In fact, by the time I delivered my daughter, I had successfully completed 2 seasons of Scandal, several documentaries, a few reality series, and I was well on my way to finishing Lost.
If I’m being completely honest, during those first months as a mom, Netflix felt like an old friend. It was there for me in the middle of the night for late night feedings. It was there for me during the day when she wanted to cluster feed for hours on end. It was there for me when I just didn’t feel like putting on clothes and facing society. When my husband would come home from work, he’d always ask, “so, what did my girls do today?” To which I would roll my eyes and reply, “I brushed my teeth, ate cold chicken over a sink, nursed 37 times, and watched Derek and Meredith get married on a post-it, again.”
After a few months and many, many series later, I got a life, canceled Netflix, and left the house. We parted ways, until very recently when I reactivated my account. How’s that saying go, “if you love binge watching, let it go. If it comes back to you, watch a whole series in one weekend.”
Gone are the days of watching a series through naps and late night feedings. Now my daughter is older, and binge watching a series with a toddler is no fun. There are no more pajamas and cluster feeding filled days, and that makes me a little sad. I think back to those days, and remember a simpler time of motherhood. The expectations were pretty limited, getting out of the house was optional, our schedule wasn’t overloaded, and the biggest decision we had to make all day was “bottle or boob.” As much as I look back on those days in longing, those days have been replaced with art projects, coloring, dance class, and running around town. I wouldn’t trade these days for anything (not even watching the entire Games of Throes series in one sitting).
Which lead me to creating a guide to “binge watching” while being a responsible parent and global citizen.
Step 1 – Binge while getting ready:
When you’re a mom, every second counts, so that’s why I watch my shows while getting ready for work.
Step 2 – Binge and do chores
The laundry is never in better order than when I’m completely hooked on a series. I usually say things like “oh my goodness, this is so much laundry, you guys should go to bed I’ll just stay up late folding and hanging.” When what I actually mean is, I’m going to stay up late casually folding clothes and watching a season of How I Met Your Mother. Feel free to use that line on your family as well!
Step 3 – Just Binge
If you’re like me, you feel really guilty taking “me time.” This is me giving you permission to occasionally stay in your pajamas all day and chill. Maybe your binge watching occurs when the kids are at school or mother’s day out, or maybe you have to send the hubs and the kids out on Saturday so you can have some peace. You deserve it! Permission granted.
While you’re watching your shows, don’t worry, I’m right there with you in the dead of night while everyone’s asleep. It just takes me a little longer to finish a series these days.
So, what’s your favorite series to binge watch?
