Consuming Kids

There are plenty out there that want to shut their eyes to this and even more who see the behaviors, attitudes, and "adorable clothes" of their children as reflections of their own "cool factor". For this parent, I reflect more responsibly upon stats that compare the 900 hours kids are in school to the 1500 hours they spend watching tv. I refuse to let ANYONE convince ME that limiting my children's screen time (tv, video games, other) will do them harm. And I've had it all thrown at me, from decreasing their social ability (I mean, how will they feel when they don't know what SpongeBob did in yesterday's episode) to hindering them from getting a job because they don't have computer skills (like those other children who play all those "educational" games while Mommy and Daddy stare at their own personal screens for the few hours they have together before lights out). So as usual, I am on the fringe of this society, rejecting the direction of the norm and pounding another nail into the coffin of my own social ability. But, yup - it's that important.