A word on television

Back in the day, it was all black and white and there were only like three channels. Then came color. OMG! It's like blowin' my mind. Then cable, satellite, and now you can watch television shows online, on any number of mobile devices, or stream television shows from the internet to your tv. Yes, it does seem redundant, but a LOT of us are doing it. I'm guilty. It truly is turning into more than an idiot box. It's like an idiot world. (and I am an idiot girl.)

The other issue, other than Jersey Shore, is monitoring your child's overall consumption of waves from the tube. Television is a dangerous place to leave your child. Some of our favorite programs that are seemingly benign, turn into loaded weapons in the hands (or brains) of children. I'm not saying that by watching CSI, your kid is going to grow up to be a murderer. It's more a problem of nuance and content. My son has lovingly dubbed every show I watch as a "creepy show". It sometimes bothers him that all I watch are creepy shows. He has a point. Dead people are creepy... as are police officers stuck in the 1970s.

There is an attitude out there that "We saw that stuff, and we turned out fine". I think that's fine until my kid is snarky like Dr. Greg House. That being said, I am not above using those beautiful kid channels as a temporary babysitter. PBS, Disney and Nick Jr. are like magic. Like a ray of sunshine in a crazy day. Who knew that a mother could be so happy to have their child learn about dinosaur poop or a talking sandwich having a party in someone's tummy. We, as parents mercilessly mock children's shows. I think it's because we're secretly jealous. Jealous that we can't make them behave as well as Dora and Boots.

So when you really really have to shower (by yourself), the kitchen is still dirty (from last week) or your brain is going to explode, turn on the good ole television, run away and know that your children will be learning... something (not the least of which is a song that will make you hate them). Hot dog, hot dog, hot diggety dog!