I want my MTV. Not to mention my Bravo, HBO, TNT, TBS, AMC and all the other cable or movie channels that I've grown to love over the years.

I would have them at my disposal at this very minute, every minute I'm in the house, but our TV broke. TVs are supposed to last decades, or at least A decade. But after five years, our expensive Sony flat-screen is on the fritz.

When the repairman quickly and quietly dismantled the D board -- the power supply board, he told me -- charged me $400 up front and took the part away to be serviced, he assured me, gullible me, that it would be fixed and back in a week. Two weeks later, and I still can't watch what I want.

When I broke the news to my husband that we'd be without TV for a week, I was somewhat excited to see if we could pull it off. I've watched shows where people agree to give it up for a week. For many it's torture to not fall asleep with the TV on, not have it on during breakfast or miss out on a major sports event.

Others brag about how they don't watch TV, as if it makes them better people. TV isn't evil; it's entertainment.

I grew up with TV, one in every bedroom. I remember waking up early before school and turning on the local news, watching tapes of my favorite soaps while I did my homework after dinner, then falling asleep to Arsenio Hall. My parents didn't restrict me, but maybe they didn't worry because I earned straight A's regardless.

I've read articles about how bad TV is for children. Apparently, watching too much can shorten their attention spans. Friends of mine have told me how they let their children watch one hour a day, if that. With childhood obesity so prevalent, there is a need to restrict children and get them out of the house.

The more I read, the more I worry about having the TV on during the day when the kids are playing. Will they stop learning from playing with educational toys and fry their brains on an episode of "The Real Housewives of New York City"?

They have an extensive collection of kids movies and Baby Einstein videos that are supposed to be educational. But except for the occasional glance at Elmo talking to his goldfish, my children just aren't interested in TV. I wish they had at least one show that kept their attention long enough for me to do a few chores.

So as their brains avoid rotting from infomercials, I wondering when I can watch TV again. The box just sits there, but I'm not allowed to plug it in.

We don't watch tons of hours, but the TV is always there in case I need a 22-minute distraction. It came in extremely handy when I was on bed rest during my twin pregnancy and reached the end of the Internet.

My husband has risen to the challenge better than I expected, turning his focus to hulu.com and anything he can watch online. He's all caught up on the few sitcoms he missed this past season and enjoying watching ones from the past. Baseball, he tells me, is no fun to watch online, but the radio is still great for it.

There really isn't a big need for a TV anymore, as we just lay down with a laptop and watch our favorite shows without worrying about finding the elusive remote.

I can live without TV, and so can my children. "Sesame Street" may help them learn their ABCs, but so can a book. I can get a big laugh from "30 Rock" or from another form of funny.

But I miss that little big screen more than I imagined. I want to watch an hour of TV before bed or catch the weather report at the beginning of the day. Habits, good or bad, are hard to break.

In a week or so, I hope, the TV will return along with the mindless shows I love. I haven't missed much during this rerun season but I did learn how much I love TV.

We've endured a lifelong relationship after all, and I'm not ready to give it up.

Laura Lewis Brown is the mother of infant twins. Her column appears every other Thursday.