Call me paranoid or a sheltering parent, but I just do not want my kids to grow up around these things. So in order to shield them, my husband and I did away with TV altogether. I feel sometimes like I'm leaning toward the Amish way of life. We have our movies at home that we can watch on our TV, but we have no reception. We have been living this way, happily, for 2 years. Our decision to take this drastic step was thought out and was based on many factors. Not only did we want to save the money by hooking up TV, we were floored by the "children's shows" on the Disney channel. Since when did mini soap operas qualify for kids? The Suite Life of Zach and Cody seems so inappropriate to me.
My daughter is 6 years old and has already started worrying about her weight. She is tiny but she still frets every time she eats something that could make her "fat". How awful is that?! This mindset is being thrown in her face with every thing she sees. I don't want my daughter to grow up thinking that a guy is only going to like her if she's thin and pretty. Already, though, she is viewing the world that way. I can only imagine how much worse it would be if she were watching regular television. I'm trying to teach my girl to be happy in her skin and to realize that she's beautiful no matter what she may look like on the outside because God made her just the way she is. He specially designed her to look the way she does. That should make her feel wonderful, but it doesn't. All she can see is what society sees. This makes me worry so much for her future. I don't want her to end up like me. If you've read any of my previous posts, you'll know what I'm talking about. I don't want her to fall for the first guy who calls her pretty. I don't want her to seek attention from boys by using her looks. That calls the wrong kind of attention and could turn in to a potentially dangerous situation. Her friends are already discussing boys and many have "boyfriends". She's 6 years old! Am I crazy to think this is way too young? I want to protect her from the things around her without sheltering her too much. I know that shielding too much can be just as dangerous as not caring what she sees. I'm trying to find that balance in between, but I just can't seem to grasp it.
As for my son, I worry what he will grow to expect. I see commercials, advertisements, magazines on his eye-level at the grocery store, and shows on TV that glorify sex. As he grows, he will be constantly shown half-naked women who look perfect. Will my words stick with him or will he grow to expect a barbie doll for a wife? Thankfully, he's got a great roll model to look up to. My husband is sensitive to the things that are around him and chooses to look away when he sees something inappropriate. I cannot tell you how wonderful this makes me feel. He hasn't seen a Victoria's Secret commercial in years. If we happen to see a movie with nudity or almost nudity, he immediately looks the other direction. He refuses to give into society's way of thinking. As his wife, I feel so much more confident that he doesn't look at those things. He does this when he's away from me too! His friends will joke with him about it! It makes me feel so good that he doesn't want to see what every other woman has to offer. Our marriage feels so secure. We belong to each other mind, body, and soul. I want that for my son. I want him to grow up looking away from those things that will tempt him. If my husband and I can instill this in his mind, he will grow to be a loving, respectful, and faithful husband (both in mind and body). I'm afraid it will be quite difficult to do this with everything he will grow up around. I fear for my children every day. What will my daughter hear today? What will my son see?
What is the breaking point for the world? Will things only continue to be worse? How can I protect the little minds I've been placed in charge of? We may be living in the dark ages in my home, but I feel confident that we have made the right decision. God wants us to seek out the good in this world and to try to correct the bad. I feel that this is the first step for my children to be lights in the darkness. We are showing them the difference between right and wrong, when so many christians have made the mistake of accepting society the way it is. Nudity is NOT necessary in a movie. Violence is NOT acceptable on TV. Hopefully with these habits and ways of thinking, my son and daughter will be children of God and will fight for what is right. Our world needs more people to stand up to the darkness.
"God, please protect my babies from the things in this world that will harm them. Help them to be a light for you and an example to others. Let them resist temptation and grow to be strong in you. Thank you for the precious lives you have given me. Give me wisdom that I can pass along to them. Amen."
