Transformers, games and whatever

The time has come to prove myself to be an old curmudgeon again. All because of a radio commercial. Loosely paraphrased . . . "Summer's here, the kids have been home for two days, and already they're complaining 'were bored...' Well don't despair mom, come to and get the transformers, X-box, video game or other gadget to keep you kid entertained all summer." Oh, and since also sells groceries, make sure you get them some twinkies, a tub of icecream and poptarts. (Ok, I made up that last bit.)

No NO NO and NO!@&% It is summer and it is gorgeous outside, take them to the park, to the mountains, the beach, or just kick them out into the yard with all the other kids. Or send them to the neighbor's house to drag their kids away from the x-box.

But it's dangerous out there! I can hear you thinking it. There are child molesters and gangs and drugs and whatnot. Yup, and most of those things existed 40 years ago when I was 10. And every time a kid is molested or hit by a car it is a tragedy for that family. But the reason that it is "news" is that the chances of it happening to your kid is small . . . really small. Teach them to stay out of the street, stay away from strangers, don't get separated from friends and who's mom or dad is home.

But it's hard, you say, things have changed and both parents have to work two jobs to support the family. Yes, i know that's true for some families. Especially in these times, some of your neighbors have one or the other spouse out of work right now. Maybe get out of your backyard, onto the front porch, meet these people and see who IS home this summer. And I don't think it has to be every parent in the neighborhood or even a majority. But little Jimmy and Mrs. Smith both need to know something. When mom hears from Mrs. Smith what Jimmy was doing and with whom, Jimmy and Mrs. Smith both need to know that Mom is going to believe Mrs. Smith (not "protect" her "baby") and that Jimmy is going to get in trouble for it.

As for gangs, well more of the same. I'm not saying ignore your kids, the other moms and dads have a role too and you have to educate them and keep an eye on them. You certainly can't throw the kids outside and sit at the computer surfing blogger posts eating twinkies. The best defense against gangs are involved parents. And like I said, just a few neighbors who will get involved, and who know that "Mom and Dad" have got their back, can make all the difference.

Is all of this harder than sending the little darlings to the veg in front of the glowing rectangle? Sure, but these are your kids. Pull the plug and send them outside.

Why when I was a kid, the daytime TV was "soaps" so we had to entertian ourselves with nothing but a piece of string and a grasshopper we caught, for hours at a time, uphill, in the snow, both ways . . . .

Grumph, curmudgeon signing off.