Do you ever feel like you are failing your children? Do you ever have one of those mornings that you wish you could rewind and start over?
I had one of those mornings. When my seven year-old left to walk to school she said she was never coming home. Over what you ask? Over a pair of flip-flops. She misplaced them, she blamed everyone in the house for not being able to find them. She just knew that her little sister had hid them from her.
I sent her to school without them so I am the meanest mom in the world (it is supposed to rain today and she should wear tennis shoes anyway).
After she left I went on a mission to find them. After searching in all of the not so obvious places, I found them. Sitting right by the back door. Right where I am sure she took them off.
I have been deeply burdened this week about raising my kids. After reading One Million Arrows and some chatter on twitter yesterday, I realize that I am not alone. There is a cool new group forming online on my friend Erin's Blog Frog community called the Mother Of Boys Society.
As you know, a Mother of Boys is not me, and probably never will be. There are other moms online that have houses full of pink, too. Yesterday we decided that we needed to form a prayer initiative to pray for our daughters. We are moms of girls and our girls need prayer.
Every time I turn on the TV and it is on anything but Nick Jr, PBS or Playhouse Disney I am appalled by the programing. Every show is focusing on relationships. Stuff that my girls at the ages of 4, 7 & 9 don't need to see. Then I listen to their conversations and it is scary. My nine year old and her friends already talk about boys.
I am ready to get rid of cable. I am so thankful that the weather is nice so we spend a majority of our time outside and away from the TV. But I realize that some major changes need to be made in this house. And I realize that I will not be their favorite person when those changes are made.
How do you control the media in your home?
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4 comments:
Amy my kindred spirit! I am right there with you in this! We turned off cable last year and the only thing I miss is "What Not to Wear"...sniff, sniff! But, one of the main reasons was the pre-teen programming!
I was thinking of a # that does not use 'girls' for obvious reasons. The only one I came up with so far was "MOD Squad" (mothers of daughters).
I am going to be praying about this over the weekend!
So excited,
Stacey
Media. It wasn't as much of a problem when my older two were young. It's increasingly hard to monitor my youngest though. I know it's a vice satan is using to get to our children. We just turn it off and so no when we think there is something better they can be doing. It's tough, but it's worth every minute we get away from the computer and TV.
Oh Amers! I wish you had a glad heart and not a troubled one at this point.
Try to have a bit of a laugh at some of the things on t.v. It won't ruin your kids simply because they are talking about boys.
I sometimes think as parents we get to wound up about this topic. Just because our kids talk about "boyfriends" doesn't mean they are showing each other their privates and plotting to have sex or even kiss. You have a strong faith in God. Trust in that compass, that compass that you will pass on to your children.
With that said, I fully give a thumbs up to shutting off cable.
You asked how we control the media in our homes....
I recently boxed up the Wii and Playsation 2 for the summer. They only have their little DS's for trips now. They do still have access to the T.V. but we limit it to one hour a day.
I also monitor Alexandr and his cellphone use. If he gives us reason to think something is going on, we check his phone and all messages on it. He is not allowed to call or text before 8:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m.
This parenting is definitely the hardest journey I have been on, as I am sure we who read your blog can all say. Wouldn't change it for the world, but man it's hard. Just be thankful you live in the middle of nowhere. Less temptation! LOL!
I totally believe that what we allow into our kid's lives affects them. Music. Friends. TV. Movies. Books. When our kids were young, we had boundaries in place as to what they could watch or listen to. I believe as parents entrusted with God's children we are responsible to protect them from Satan's lies.
Having said that, we can't protect them from everything forever, but we can give them a good strong base of God's truth and steer them to their own faith in God. As they grow up, we can cover them with prayer to make the right choices and see life through the lens of truth.
There is no "black and white" biblical rule for this, so we must let His principles guide us. If God is impressing on your heart to guide your girls away from harmful (to their hearts and minds) media, then go with it, girl! When have you ever followed His lead and ended up regretting it? I'm guessing never. :)
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