My kids like to watch TV. They get that from their dad and me. We have our Tivo set up to religiously catch our favorite shows like My Name is Earl and Battlestar Galactica, Lost and the Closer. We like TV. We know we watch too much of it. We know there are better, more productive ways to use our time, but we enjoy it and it’s cheap and it’s in our house and that’s all I have to say about that.
Peter and I know that our chances of being stranded on a mythical island are slim to none, but, if we were, we probably would not be toting pistols and trotting through the forest bravely….we’d still be blubbering in the wreckage, hoarding our Tic Tacs. We understand that karma is good, crazy hair extensions and too much spandex is bad. We are able to differentiate between what is appropriate and what is not.
You can stop laughing now….it’s ok, I’ll wait for you to finish.
My kids, however, are another story. I have words for shows like Drake and Josh, iCarly and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. I have words that involve QUIT and BEING and DOUCHEBAGS!
If my kids talked to each other the way these characters talk to their siblings, the punishment would be severe . If they dared speak to their father and me in those tones of insolence and you’re-too-incompetent-to-be-the-boss-of-me (which we may be, but that’s not the point!), heads would ROLL! If they got into the trouble these kids do for lack of common sense and basic courtesy I think that military school would play heavily in their future. I can only imagine my reaction if they brought home such impudent friends and overly hormonal dates (dates that Peter swears they won’t actually have until their 30’s), but I’m sure it would resemble something in the realm of a volcanic explosion.
Yet, the portrayed “adults” are complete boobs! The parents just smile and shrug when spoken to like the hired help, parents are bypassed all together for older siblings who are the mental equivalents of Rain Man, teachers are tyrannical and outright cruel. THIS is not helping either.
Turn it off, you might say. And I probably should. But, I use them as examples of what NOT to do. It’s not often you get perfect examples of the behavior that makes your parental skin crawl. My kids are so tired of hearing me say, “…and if you EVER…!” They even come to me and talk about what the characters did that was so wrong. We discuss if we’d like for people to treat US that way. For all that these shows are funny, I get the opportunity to show my kids what not to do, with walking, talking examples of what’s going to get them in the most trouble.
I can’t buffer my kids from all the outside influences that are going to try to sway them to the dark side. As much as I would love to stick them in the bubble and keep their childhood sweetness and innocence forever, I know that’s not going to happen. The best I can do is try to fill their little heads with the knowledge that will help them make the right decisions when faced with the quandaries of life.
While my first request would be that the producers of these shows stop to consider the generation of complete derfwads they’re helping to groom, I also accept that my role as the parent is to take what they see and hear (because trust me, they’re getting just as much of it from their classmates and friends) and teach them how to use it to their advantage.
And should that fail to work, I will allow Peter’s idea of all ESPN. All. The. Time.
Oh, I hope this works!
on Aug 9th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Anything on TeenNick is banned in this household! I have walked in on WAY too much nonsense!
Not that Disney is that much better……but in my mind….it is!
I feel your pain on this!
Oh….and even a little spandex is BAD! (At least when it comes to shorts!)
Queen of the Mayhems last blog post..And…..so it Begins
on Aug 9th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
I raised my kids the same way and I think it worked! My husband does not share my beliefs so he often had stuff on TV I would rather them not watch…but since I could not control it I used those shows as lessons! Plus they wound up watching that stuff at friends houses too. And they would often teach those kids a thing or 2! They are not perfect but neither am I….but I got 3 amazing grown adult like kids 🙂
And we can all see it seems to be working for you too! I was shocked when my kids were young how many kids would cuss out the teachers….in KINDERGARTEN!
on Aug 9th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Oh, I’m totally with you using it to teach lessons. I pointed out on the news the other night how the family from China shown on a broadcast had to wear coats and hats in their houses because they didn’t have heat. I love tv, too, and watch way too much as well, but ANYTHING can be used for good or bad, ya know?!
And yes I DO miss the Smurfs, and secretly wish for a Dish upgrade so I can have Boomerang!
Christis last blog post..I’ve been tagged–UNspectacular things about me!
on Aug 9th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
I totally agree about not being able to (or really wanting to) shelter the kids from everything. They’ll see it eventually; I believe that if you instill your values in them when they’re little and be consistent and have lots of conversations, about rights and wrongs, they can grow up and listen to heavy metal without killing anybody, for sure. We have “Kenan & Kel” and “Drake & Josh” on the tv constantly here, much to my dismay, but it’s alright. We sometimes do the commentary from the couch and I know my kids are going to be fine. That said, I loves me some Smurfette.
on Aug 9th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Actually what you’re doing is not such a bad idea! I was a live-in nanny in Sweden a few years back, and my 4 and 5 year old charges loved to watch Supernanny. The kids called it “Busiga Barn” which is Swedish for “Naughty Children.” They would beg me “Can we watch Busiga Barn???” and they’d sit there gasping at the terrible behavior and explaining to me why that was wrong. If they misbehaved I’d say “You’re acting like the Busiga Barn!” and they would stop immediately in the sheer horror that they were anything like those monsters on TV. It really was a great example of what NOT to do and it worked.
on Aug 9th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
What a great perspective. I hope to keep it in mind when my girls start clamoring to watch those shows. Dora and Spongebob don’t seem so bad after all!
on Aug 10th, 2008 at 12:27 am
I was just bitching the other day about how those shows make the adults look like total idiots. I know I can’t keep my kids from everything I don’t agree with but I’ve done a damn fine job so far with keeping the tween shows out of our lives. It will be a lot easier when we get rid of cable — after the Showtime series’ season ends, of course, because while the kids are pretty sheltered, mommy still needs her fix of drugs, sex and lovable serial killers.
(and no, I don’t miss the Smurfs, not even a little 🙂
Izzys last blog post..Yeah, well YOUR mom is a lunch box sniffer…
on Aug 10th, 2008 at 11:47 am
LOL. This is all so true. SO TRUE.
Ps. It was Sugarpants and the olympics twitter!!!
on Aug 10th, 2008 at 11:52 am
We don’t watch a lot of TV in our house, but I think you have the right attitude and perspective about it. It just goes to show that you can find value in just about anything – even “bad” TV. Good for you.
Found you via CommentLuv on Mother Goose Mouse because, yes, I miss the Smurfs. My daughter has gotten into watching old Smurf clips on YouTube and boy do they bring back memories.
on Aug 10th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
ESPN-All-The-Time works for us!
Of course my boys are older…and Mary seems to know that if she spends more time at her grandparents houses, she gets more time with George…as in Lopez!
T.V. – it’s a never ending saga around here.
Best of luck!
Beverlys last blog post..Wishes from the Trenches
on Aug 10th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I vote they bring back the shows where the parents were always right!
I need all the help I can get.
Don Mills Divas last blog post..Where humanity and hubris intersect
on Aug 10th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Wow… 1st time at here…
You have a nice blog…
will come back always.
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on Aug 11th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
You’re a genius, using TV to show your kids right from wrong!
Tropic of Moms last blog post..Just say no to Future Ant Farmers of America
on Aug 12th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Amen sister! Remember when the worst thing a sibling would say on TV was “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia”?
Jennifers last blog post..FFF; Having a Ball On Our California Vaca!
on Aug 7th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Can you provide more information on this? I’m very interested, just need to get a bit more info to complete my extension research on how to get perfectlocks… I’m working on a hair extension project and your feedback would help a lot!