I realize that the theme of this post is supposed to be humorous. But this week I am going to digress. I apologize if this sounds too soap-boxy. As I always teach my kids, every family has different rules and that's okay. So if you don't agree with me, I will understand. But I have to get this off my chest.
It's my fault. I should know better, but I guess I let my busy-nest distract me. Plus I assumed that if it's a Disney show, it's just fine for my kids to watch. I know better, really I do. But my kids don't watch TV a lot and sometimes it's a welcomed source of entertainment.
They were watching this show called Good Luck, Charlie......ever heard of it? Or seen it? I had only seen brief snippets of it and it looked cute and mildly entertaining. It's this middle-class family whose youngest daughter is about 1 and named Charlie. And she's very cute. I don't really know much else about it. But the kids were watching it and I sat down to do something on the computer in the same room. I looked up at the TV and watched as the brother and his friend came in the house and immediately told their mom not to answer the phone if Mrs. "So and So" called.
The mom asked what the brother did this time and he said that they may have "borrowed" some lemons from her lemon tree to make lemonade. The mom gives a disapproving look, but before she can say anything the phone rings. She answers to an upset Mrs. "So and So" who wants to know if she knows anything about some stolen lemons, when the brother whips out some money and bribes his mom not to say anything.
So the mom grabs the money out of his hand and LIES to the neighbor, right there in front of these kids!!!!! I COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT I WAS SEEING!!! And to make it worse....the audience LAUGHED!!!
What's funny about this? I don't find that funny at all. Just the opposite. I find it to be despicable, dishonest, disgusting, and disappointing. Thankfully, I was there to tell my kids how wrong this was, but what if I wasn't? I understand if this was a regular show in prime time, but if your target audience is children, how is this appropriate?
Again, maybe I am overreacting. But I can't stand these shows that glorify dumb behavior. And they are everywhere. And I, for one, am not laughing.
What does everyone else think?
~Betina
15 comments:
I knew TV shows were getting bad, but that is absolutely pathetic. Remember how Mom always had the remote in her hand, and would change the channel on us? You just have to watch like a hawk! What's happened to Disney?!
Court
Betina I have had that happen to me a few times with a Disney or a Nick show and I have always had the same reaction. I can't get over how many shows on these kid networks depict parents as stupid pawns to the wiser children. The one thing I'm grateful for, is that like you I witnessed something I didn't like and then could tell my kids how I felt about it and it opened up a discussion. However like you, I didn't expect to have to do this with a kid friendly network. It is scary how vigilant we have to be. I do like your mothers idea of always having the remote available so she could change the channel! Thanks for an important reminder!! Great post!
This is a reason very few television shows come on in my home besides educational cartoons and sports. As a parent, I have trouble trusting what's on anymore. Best wishes!
Clayton
http://www.claytonpaulthomas.com
I do not like many of the "older kid" Disney shows. Or Nickelodeon ones. Sometimes parents are absent or just plain crazy like you're describing. My littlest, who is almost four, called her preschool teacher "lame" a few weeks ago. While she used it in context, she does not know what it means and could only have picked it up from one of her older siblings (who I've never heard use that term) or one of their tv shows. NOT GOOD. We definitely have been limiting these shows in our home.
Stopping in from VB today - hope it is a great day!
Oh my goodness!! Fortunately my kids are too young for that sort of TV at this point, but I'm dreading what they're going to be exposed to as they get older! UGH!!
I think this is one of those cases where the writers are probably NOT parents, and thus are not tuned in to what parents consider appropriate or inappropriate. They're probably the same folks who write for adult shows.
Whatever happened to sitcoms that had moral lessons in each episode? *sigh*
On a happier note, thanks for hosting the comedy club again! I just linked up!
Smiles, Jenn
I am with you. We live in Austria, and my daughter discovered this show while we were home in the States this summer. I do not like how they make the parents look dumb, and like the kids are running the show. I mean seriously the kids are made out to be the responsible care givers to the baby. I have been disappointed with the Disney shows. My daughter is on a partial ban from them because, she is fluent in German and gets all of the little jokes and things faster than we can filter them out due to translation!
Oh, it gets worse. There's Austin and Ally. I go to tween disney daily and it's horrible.
I know what show you are talking about. My daughter is still too young but I worry about that stuff. You are right to be angry and I totally agree with you. Wrong message to send to kids.
Our daughers are older so when those kinds of things are encountered, it is an opportunity to discuss the inappropriate nature of the behavior . . . . but it is truly sad that those kinds of things are even part of programming for children. It definitely gives the wrong idea about honesty and the parent / child relationship. We try to be very selective about what TV programs our daughters watch, and I have also been disappointed with the way Disney has become a voice for such destructive messages. Thank you for sharing your thoughts . . . . agree completely! Nina @ mamas*little*treasures
My kids also watch that show and its cute and entertaining at times, but it definitely has some "fresh" (I am such a huge fan of that word) undertones. I was once the mom who did not allow her children to watch Sponge Bob because I thought he was unimpressive, but they loved him. So odd to me still, but they did. Now they love the Disney shows and its true, they really don't show the respect for adults as I'd like them too, but they really are great ways to point out the bad behavior and tones and disrespect and have the conversations with the kids about it, so they know exactly where we stand. I'd rather point out a TV character's bad behavior than my own friends or relatives kids..or my kid's friends. That and I don't allow that behavior in my house, including the disrespect and tone. I relate it to the fact that I like some comedies where the humor may be off colored and obnoxious. Its safe to laugh at it because its meant to be entertaining, but I don't act like that in my life because I couldn't get away with it and I know its not acceptable. Same thing. Our children are exposed to all kinds of other kids and other parenting styles at other homes and they may try on the behaviors they think will benefit them, and when they don't fly at home, they learn.
Holy cow! (wow, I've been saying that a LOT today...LOL!) I let my six year old watch that show. But I've never actually sat down and watched it with her. Perhaps it's time for me to watch an episode or two and make sure it's not giving her any negative lessons. I do agree with the previous comment though. I hope my teaching of values and morals will far override what she sees on TV. I can't completely control who or what she's exposed to, but I can control how I parent her. And maybe that means putting a stop to Good Luck Charlie. Or maybe not.
Hugs,
~Rosann
Betina, you are not at all wrong to feel that way! Now I'm a little worried that I better pay closer attention!! How awful!!! Thanks for the heads up! Not Your Ordinary Recipes
Not Your Ordinary Agent
OMGosh definitely a bad message! I've seen the show a couple of times and never really thought to much about it. Thanks for sharing this. My boys will not be watching..They tell me to turn anyway because they are still in the cartoonish stage..lol
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Kelli
Thanks everyone for the comments. It makes me feel better that I'm not the only one who is disappointed in these shows sending the wrong message. I agree that it does provide an opportunity for a great learning experience and that's exactly what we did with it. It is a really good example of what NOT to do and how NOT to behave.
~Betina
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