Some of the comments from my first blog brought me to this subject. Even some of my own comments on that blog brought me to this subject. Paranoia parenting...it should be listed as a medical ailment. As a parent, I do see some of the concerns, but if you are a proactive parent you should be able to handle these situations when they arise. Afterall, who is the parent and ultimately in charge of your relationship with your children? Who knows better? You or 5 year Johnny or Sue?

 Example...TV and children...good Lord do I even have to go here. Parents daily moan and whine about what their children are seeing on TV. I remember a few years back when there was a group of parents trying to get Nick Jr. to remove the popular show, LazyTown from their lineup. If you haven't seen LazyTown google it and read up on the premise of the show. It's written by a guy in Iceland I believe. He is a physical fitness guru and the show is aimed at teaching children healthy eating habits and good exerecise. Sounds innocent enough right? The only human characters are the show are the writer who portrays Sportacus, a man who plays Robbie Rotten ( the villian) and Stephanie, the very cute actress who helps the other children in LazyTown make good choices. These parenting groups threw a fit over the fact that Stephanie lives with her single uncle, who is the Mayor of LT...his character is a PUPPET! They were also upset at the fact that she wears a short skirt while Sportacus wears a one piece bodysuit they felt was too tight and was inappropriate. The guy is flipping around and exercising half the show...what do you expect him to wear? Do these parents complain at male gymnasts wearing their little tight one piece things on the floor exercise or complain about male ballet dancers. I mean come on...I've seen more of those men than I really care to. Back to the show though..it was upsetting to this group due to the fact they thought there were hidden sexual innuendos in this show. Here is a young girl wearing too short of a skirt running around town with this man all day and then going home to her single uncle. I will admit I wondered a time or two why didn't she live with her parents? Who cares though. I can guarantee my 4 year old at the time and 2 year old didn't think about that. They were more interested in Robbie's latest scheme  and if Sportacus would catch him.

 As a parent, if you don't agree with a show TURN IT OFF! and don't turn it back on until something you feel is more suitable comes on. These people can't really believe their toddler aged children are picking up on any, if there are, "hidden" messages. And if they are, then they are probably too old to be watching the show anyway.

 In our society today parents rely way too much on others to do their job for them. Turn off your TV's if you don't like the programming and send your kids OUTSIDE! You know - the nicely manicured lawn you overpay to have done every week. They can actually play on the soft green stuff out there and have a really good time doing it. Now, I would be lying if I said there wasn't a time (last year to be exact) that my kids didn't spend a little too much time inside and watching TV. We made a committment this year though to spend more time outside and having the TV off. Let me tell you, I have been amazed at watching what my children do out there with nothing more than their imagination. Ok, well their imagination, a box of sidewalk chalk, a Little Tykes car and a bicycle. You get the drift though. I have also won the war in my household against any game system that is plugged into the television. My husband and son have been itching for an XBox or Wii, but the answer still remains NO. Granted, our oldest does have a Nintendo DS, but he rarely plays it anymore due to school and more homework this year. He's lucky to have the time for it even on weekends now. And you know something? He doesn't miss it...Between school and Cub Scouts he is active and enjoying it.

 Anyway - my point, if there really was one is for parents to wake up, drink some coffee and quit expecting everyone else to do your job for you. This is aimed at those who want to complain about what your kids are exposed to of course. You are ultimately responsible for what they are exposed to. It's not TV's fault or the companies advertising, or the writers's of the shows. They are doing their job...now go do yours.