Monday, January 2, 2012

garbage in, garbage out

Alternately titled ...

I feel so old
or
I think I was born in the wrong century,
or
I am not a cool mom 

... sigh.

This post could relate to the title of my blog, since my parents had absolutely no interest in being like those parents who tried to be great friends with their children by allowing them to do things that they probably shouldn't have, the only difference being that they (by Mama's own admission) didn't worry about how their decisions would make us feel.  They did what they felt was best for us and that was the end of it.

At the moment I am typing this, Ronnie and LB are returning a popular Wii dance game that Ronnie's mom gave LB for Christmas.  I knew when she got it that this might have to happen, and we warned LB that if we didn't feel that the content was appropriate then we wouldn't keep the game.   So, today I finally took the time to look up some of the music on You Tube, just to see what it was.  Let me just say that I was embarrassed by the lyrics and videos of the songs on this game.  I know that the videos aren't actually shown on the game, but it is my understanding that the lyrics are and I couldn't believe that any parent would actually allow their child to listen to this garbage.

As a disclaimer, let me say that this was the latest version of this game and that I have been told that the earlier versions aren't as bad and as my children pointed out, you could just play the songs that aren't bad and don't listen to the ones that are.  But, I couldn't do this with this game...one song (California Gurls) was by Katy Perry and some rapper and if that were the only bad song on the whole game, I still couldn't risk my children being exposed to those lyrics.  I hope I am not stepping on any toes here, I know that every parent makes the choices that they feel are best for their children and I know that not everyone agrees with how much I shelter my children, and that is okay, but it doesn't change the fact that Ronnie and I are responsible for every thing that goes into the minds and hearts of our children.

Interestingly, not long after I finished my little foray into pop music via youtube, I saw the following link on facebook...let me warn you that this article contains some of the less graphic, but still disturbing, lyrics from the Katy Perry song mentioned above.  The article seemed to be a timely confirmation of the decision Ronnie and I made today.

Profanity and Pop Music

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

4 comments:

Greg and Donna said...

GOOD FOR YOU! It is our responsibility to "shield" or "protect" our children. Its bad enough that stuff gets through accidentally but we can manage what we allow on purpose! I'm one of those mean moms too, but they are still exposed to more than I would like.

justcallmerie said...

Yes, you go girl!

You are so right. Izzy asked for what may be the same game and didn't get it. Not for your reasons, but blessings are sometimes disquised, huh?

I got your back - and tell LB I love her and what a great mom she has! cause you've got her back. and if she doesn't see that now, she will later - and will love you the more for it.

Tina Hollenbeck said...

I am totally with you! And I am facing this coming Saturday - when we will get together with my husband's family for a belated Christmas (complete with gift exchange) - with much trepidation because I am very afraid of what the relatives - cousins who got my girls' names and my in-laws - will have gotten the girls. All the cousins are in the same age range (basically, 9 to 13) and now that my girls are 9 and 10, I am really dreading what I fear may happen: i.e., that they will think what is acceptable to the other kids will be fine for mine ("Because they're the same age, after all!"). The relatives mean well, and my girls will understand if we need to do exchanges...but it's still pretty embarrassing if we later get asked how they like something that we returned. I have even offered alternative ideas...but I saw last year that they were starting to be ignored. And people didn't even ask for ideas this year. Sigh.

Felicity said...

Good for you! There are some toys I have refused to allow my children to have, and I would probably do the same as you with that dance game.
I liked what you said about your parents: "they didn't worry about how their decisions would make us feel"... sometimes I think we can worry too much about that and it can almost paralyse us.