A Word about Evenings WITHOUT Television

There are so many things that are far more thrilling and fulfilling to do in the evenings than vegetate in front of the "Boobtube" as my parents called it. In my house, we have children, a husband, wife, and a television...all the ingredients to make for a evening full of glassy-eyed couch-potatoes, robotic ally munching on snacks, but NO! We don't give in to this societal expected household activity. Instead, our children are usually practicing their instruments (fighting for the dining room, which has been converted to a music room), or reading their latest book, outside gardening before dark with daddy, playing with the neighborhood kids, or continuing the chalk art on the driveway. When, and IF, the TV does go on, it is PBS with "Nature," or a movie that was approved by mom and dad (and kid enjoyed).

What the television represents now is the opinions of Corporate America. This money-hungry giant has become an immoral monster, but worse, it has become and continues to be the "teacher," "babysitter," and "role model" for the next generation. It does not care what impressions it makes morally speaking. GK Chesterton talked about the media back in the early 1940's in his "Orthodoxy" and I am shocked that we haven't begun to see through much of this poisonous influence to our young. The snotty, know-it-all attitudes that are portrayed in the media by children toward adults, or other figures of authority, and adults being shown as idiots is a shameful representation of the family structure.

Parents, it is our job to bring back the family evenings with activities like: board games, books, walks, just talking together, learning a craft, developing a hobby, visiting with long-distance relatives on telephone, or just playing with the family pet, taking a long soaking bath, listening to music, or better yet, making music, getting to bed early. These simple activities could fill an evening in a much more productive and positive way.

All the days in our lives are stored in a bank account, each day is a withdrawal. We can't put days in, they are just spent. So, every day is precious, never to be again, so make the most of it. Television, used wisely, can be a good thing, but abused and over used has already proven to be very detrimental to the person, much less society.

Get creative, get some exercise, play a sport, do a hobby, learn something, share a smile, hug, or a conversation with those you know and love. When I take a walk in the evenings in my neighborhood, I can see the blue hue of the television on in many levels in most of the homes. It is too bad that so many days are spent not with our families at the same address. You know how that old saying goes, "when it is all said and done, you won't hear me saying, I sure wish I'd spent more time at the office?" Don't be caught having to say, "I sure wish I had spent less time in front of the television and more time with my dear ones that needed me."