When did the TV become a babysitter? I remember when I was a kid and being allowed to watch a programme was a treat, a reward for good behavior, a privilege. The muppet show was the ultimate, it didn't get much better and I would tidy my room and eat my broccoli when I knew it was on. My mother owes a lot to Kermit the frog.
But nowadays it's used as a tool to get work done, a mind zapping, calm inducing shrine of worship. The kids bow down to it's all encompassing power and we parents, scurry around putting our houses, lives and minds in order. Or we make a cup of tea and go back to bed.
We like to give it a name, 'down time', as if we think it's doing them good. Reading a book is 'down time', drawing a picture, talking to the cat…..TV is zombie time and nothing more.
I have three kids and the usual overloaded life, the Disney Channel and kid zone are my mates, my fall upon friends when it all hits the fan. Turn on the telly and down they flop, couch, beanbag, upside down, hanging off the back of a chair, wherever and whatever way, they chill. Add a bag of chips and I am sweet to do what should have, but hasn't, and what must, but couldn't, get done.
Now, I am not going to get totally crazy here, I am not going to start a riot, because God knows the little darlings are capable of civil unrest. I will be moderate and sensible and realistic and I will limit TV to a few shows in the afternoon.
You may well scoff at my half pie change, but come on, if I had just announced that telly would be banned from our house, do you really think it would last? I'll answer that for you, no it would not, the kids would kick me out of the house and sell me to the circus. It would make a wonderful reality show, but well this is my life with three feral children and it is very, very real. Change #12….Giving Dora the heave ho.
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