Who’s Reality is THIS?

While visiting Family in Madison over Easter break, I enjoyed an excellent dinner and intelligent conversation with two of my closest friends. We shared intimate details about our lives, our men, children, careers, and even talked a little about shopping and hairstyles. We chatted for two hours, and were really getting into the thick of it, when Anne said, “Oh I should have recorded Idol tonight ~ it’s on right now!”

Sandy chimed in, “I’m recording it, you can come over and watch it!”

I was incredulous. I’m not a snob, but I couldn’t believe what I heard. Sandy and Anne were hooked on American Idol! I watched three minutes of that show about two years ago and quickly changed the channel. So I had nothing to say while Sandy and Anne discussed Idol details; who they thought would win and why; how pretty some girl was, but her hair was funky; and how that one guy didn’t really sing that great.

In my opinion, American Idol is the mother of all lame, ridiculous so-called Reality TV shows, and even if 100 million Americans watch it, that doesn’t make it good TV. It’s embarassing, really. All those shows could be lumped under one heading: What People Will do for Money and Ten Minutes of Notoriety.

The original reality TV show that I enjoyed as a youngster was Candid Camera. Now THAT was good TV! Clean, humorous, respectful even in the midst of a trick, good for an honest laugh out loud any day. And remember Art Linkletter and his wonderful interviews of children? He got them to say the most hilarious things, while he showed respect for them as individuals. No one ratted on another person, used profanity, lied or cheated to get something, or made lewd gestures at the camera. No one had to eat worms, crawl around in dog shit, or be covered by spiders and snakes.

Today’s reality TV is just garbage masquerading as prime time fare. I respect anyone’s right to watch it, but I don’t have to jump on the bandwagon. I’ll just go read my book now.

KidSpeak

Out of the mouths of boys...

• Does the Grim Reaper know if someone is choking?
• What would happen if gravity was reversed? Everything would hang UP, not down, right?
• How does the cheese get on the moon?
• Why do some people like George Bush?
• Next time, don’t sing with me, OK?
• Your breath stinks. Pew!
• How do the cats know who to sleep on?
• Look! Did the cat throw up a mouse or a bird?
• What kind of guts are those?
• Let’s count to a hundred a hundred times!
• I hid my math homework so now I don’t have to do it. Right?
• Mom, Torin hit me after I hit him!
• He punched me in the eye, so I had to kick him in the leg. Golden Rule, right Mom? Do unto others as they do unto you? That’s what you said, Mom... Yes it is! ... Is so!
• Turn the light back on, I have a booger.
• Is diarrhea when water comes out of your butt? I hate that!
• Can I? Can I, Mom? Can I? Why can’t I, Mom? Can I?
• MOM! Logan just put Batman’s feet in the salsa!
  
• I’ll love you even when you’re dead in heaven...
• I love you bigger than the Milky Way!
• If I was paint, and Logan was paper, you could use me to paint on him!

These are just a few of the rich comments and thoughtful ideas that come from my kids, two rambunctious boys in the most exciting parts of their young lives ~ so far, according to my nine-year-old.

Some things they say make me hug them tighter and choke back a tear of longing, wanting to linger on this page in our lives together just a bit longer. Other times I just want to crawl in the closet and scream, or take a long solitary walk. Why do I have to be the mediator all the time? Can’t they just get along!?!

Memories of my sibling contests of power and control creep up on me, and ridiculous teenage arguments with my mother ~ who loves me nonetheless. (For all the doors I slammed and the dirty looks I snarled in your direction, I'm sorry Mom!)

So this is my legacy; these young boys, their rich full lives, and who they turn out to be. The recipe is ever changing, but includes: Love, Prayer, Patience, Stamina, Playfulness, Discipline, Generosity, Sincerity. So far so good.