TV Trouble

Karen and I had been married for several years and were still learning new things about each other daily. We met on an airplane and bonded over our love of traveling, walking, hiking, and exploring new cities. We spent our weekends traveling to nearby parks and forests, always looking for new hiking trails and sights.

But there was one thing about Karen that I didn't know when we got married - she was an avid TV watcher. I, on the other hand, hated watching TV. I found it tedious and mind-numbing, and I would much rather spend my evenings trying to learn new things by reading research studies or catching up on world affairs.

At first, I didn't think much of it. Karen would watch TV occasionally, usually while I was working on a project or reading a book. But as time passed, I realized just how much she loved TV. She would come home from work and immediately turn on the TV, flipping through the channels until she found something she wanted to watch. And on weekends, she would spend hours binge-watching her favorite “Law and Order” crime show.

I tried to be understanding. I know everyone has different interests and hobbies, and I didn't want to be the kind of husband who prevented his wife from doing what she loved. But it was hard. The constant noise from the TV was distracting, and I struggled to concentrate on my work.

We talked about it, of course. Karen was sympathetic but didn't want to give up watching TV altogether. And I didn't want to force her to give up something she enjoyed. So, we had to find a compromise.

One of the first things we did was invest in a pair of noise-canceling earbuds for Karen. She could watch TV on her iPad without disturbing me, and I could work or read in peace. It could have been better - sometimes Karen would get so engrossed in a show that she would forget to turn down the volume on her earbuds - but it was a start.

We also had to be mindful of each other's schedules. Karen would try to watch TV when I was out of the house or busy with something else, and I would try to schedule my work and hobbies around her TV-watching time. It wasn't always easy, but it was better than constantly arguing about the noise.

But there were times when I felt like I was going crazy. Karen would be watching TV in the living room while I was trying to work in the study, and I could hear the noise from the TV even with her earbuds. Or she would be watching a show in bed while I was trying to fall asleep, and I could hear the muffled sound of the TV.

I tried to be patient, but sometimes I would snap. I would storm into the living room and demand that she turn down the volume, or I would lie in bed unhappy while she watched TV next to me. It wasn't fair to either of us.

One night, Karen came to me with a solution. She suggested we watch a show together, something we could enjoy. I was skeptical at first - I didn't want to get sucked into the world of TV-watching - but I agreed to try it.

We settled on a show Karen had wanted to watch for a while. It was the show “Billions,” a Wall Street drama, and I found myself getting sucked into the story almost immediately. We would watch an episode once per week, and I found myself looking forward to it.

Sadly, the spirit of compromise didn’t last, and I gradually returned to my old ways. I learned to accept her watching TV in her little world while I blissfully focused on what I enjoyed most, namely reading and writing.

Sometimes, the best way to compromise is to continue to do what you love while allowing the other person to do the same!