My daughters, sister, niece, and I are a bit obsessed. Admittedly, we are a lot obsessed.  Recently, after filming had concluded on a reality show that we all watch, one of the cast members discovered that her longtime boyfriend was having a month’s long affair with another cast member. Quickly, the cameras went back up and the reactions to the affair are being filmed. The current season, which was filmed before the affair became public, is airing now.

My daughters, sister, niece, and I have a group text where we post daily any articles that are being posted about the affair, our opinions of the episodes as they air and anything else we can find.  My husband and my brother-in-law, on the other hand, find our fascination with the affair laughable.

I discovered reality television several years ago when I was sitting shiva for my mom. It was early in the morning, I was home alone, and feeling sad. I turned on the television and started flipping through the channels. I came across The Real Housewives of New Jersey and, for that hour, I was caught up in their world and took that hour away from my world and my sadness. It was the perfect distraction at that time.

Since that time, I generally watch certain reality television while on the treadmill as an incentive to get me on the treadmill. With respect to the current drama that’s taking place, I was on trial most of last week and preparing for the trial in the weeks before. Again, I found the reality of the reality television distracting during an extremely busy several weeks.

Do you watch any reality television?