Don't Assume

On Monday nights, we take the kids to the library. They head to the children's section and check out books and more DVDs than they can watch in a week. It's part of our routine and we enjoy it. When the kids pick out movies, they always show them to us for our approval before adding them to the cart. They know that there are certain "children's" shows that we don't approve of.
Last week, my 6 year old picked out a movie called The Eye of the Dolphin. I glanced at it and quickly approved. Over the weekend, we all sat down to watch this movie. Two minutes into it, a teen girl hands her mother a "packet of birth control" before her mom's date. Then 30 seconds later, the girl is seen smoking some sort of drug. Thankfully, by this point we turned the movie off. I grabbed the movie case and at that point noticed the movie was rated PG-13. I let my kids rent a PG-13 movie - yikes! I barely let them watch PG movies. I was very shaken and upset.
Tonight, we went back to the library to return our movies. I kept "that" movie out so I could talk to the librarian about it. When I brought it to the attention of the librarian, she was shocked and appalled. After doing a little bit of checking, she found out that this movie was miscoded and should have been with the adult movies. She also found out that it had been on the shelf since 2007 and checked out 66 times!! I was the first person to say anything about it.
This tells me three things:
1. Parents have no idea what their kids are watching.
2. Parents don't care what their kids are watching. And/or
3. Parents aren't taking the time to right a wrong; to protect other kids and their innocence.

I've been thinking about that and just want to say, Don't Assume.

Pay attention to what your kids are watching. Don't assume that because a movie is in the children's section that it's ok. Don't assume that just because a movie or show is labeled as "children's," that it's appropriate for your kids to watch. I've seen way too many cartoons and other shows that look kid-friendly but are anything but.

Care about what your kids are watching. Don't assume that they are too young to understand. Kids are smart!! They are also immature. They pick up what is going on and being said but lack the maturity to deal with it appropriately. Our children's innocence needs to be protected for as long as possible.

And lastly, step up and make your voice heard. Don't assume someone else will do it. Chances are it is up to you. Do it for your kids. Most of you know I am pretty meek and mild - basically a door mat. :) But when it comes to my kids, I turn into a mama bear. I will do whatever it takes to stand up for them. This has put me in many situations that I am not usually comfortable with. A couple of years ago, my first grade daughter was shown a movie at school that I think is highly inappropriate. It is rated PG and like I said, we rarely let our kids watch PG movies - for that reason. I was very upset. I wrote a note to my daughter's teacher explaining why I was not happy about what happened. The teacher contacted me and apologized. The movie was shown by the lunch ladies during indoor recess and they had no idea what the movie was rated. I was the only mother to say something. It shocks me and saddens me.

Think of something inappropriate that you've seen before. It's hard to get that stuff out of your head, right? I don't want my kids' heads to be filled with garbage. Garbage in, garbage out. Let's fill our kids' heads with lovely, pure things instead.

" 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. " Phillippians 4:8