When Mr. R and I returned from Korea, we lived in Lima, OH. We decided we didn't want a tv. A year later Amanda was born. We spent an enormous amount of time reading to her for the next five years. It got to the point that I wouldn't even have to open the books, I had memorized all of them. I think this had a great affect on her success in school and love for learning. We also have a very close mother/daughter relationship. Ben, on the other hand, grew up with Sesame Street and all the other shows on PBS. He gets good grades but doesn't exhibit that "love of learning" like his sister. Different kids, different start in life...who knows? But if I were to do it again, I would limit the tv while they are young.