I have always been thoughtful about the entertainment choices that my children have made over the years, as well as what entertainment choices of mine they are exposed to. For example, I didn't watch The Sopranos while they were around, until just recently and even had reservations about many of the episodes of Grey's Anatomy. As they got older, of course, things change and I worry about it less.
There's a caveat though... a nuance... a variable...
My children are now 14, 13 and 11. They are very close in age and so they are very close friends. They are into many of the same things. They like similar music, television and activities. There are differences of course, but their overall exposure to the "world" pretty much takes place around the same time for them all. Until recently, I didn't really think about this too much. And then I did.
See, my oldest is a full-on teenager. And the next is only younger by a mere 12.5 months. The concepts, ideas, images and 'dark' sides of life are more palatable for her maturity level, than say... my 11 year old who actually likes being a kid. I hear that the youngest clings to childhood longer... or maybe its us parents who inadvertently cause that. Whatever the case may be, he's a kid. He's a good kid. And he likes being eleven. This means that some of the things his older siblings do and discuss, are uncomfortable for him. This became really obvious to me just recently.
It was a live show by a local, up and coming teen comedy theater troupe. These young actors are brilliant and talented and FUNNY - and they push the envelope. They run a PG-13 show and from what I'm told it is indeed rated correctly. I knew this in advance, but was completely comfortable allowing all three kiddos to go and enjoy the show and support their friends. Theater kids are really cool like that!
Well, the older two really enjoyed it and said it was hilarious. The youngest... he was a little stunned upon pick up. He later explained that he thought it was funny and that it was definitely a good show - but there were parts that made him uncomfortable. I asked if he didn't understand some of it (was the humor perhaps going over his head?) Nope! He understood alright and the tone, inflection and facial blushing revealed to me that he understood more than he wanted to. Geeze! What kind of Mother am I anyway? No it wasn't even close to pornographic - I just used a grabby headline and you know it! Point is, I owned the fact that I lumped them all together and enjoyed a night out at a bar while they were at the show (talk about feeling like worlds worst Mom eh?) and apologized for making assumptions that unintentionally caused him discomfort.
Well, lesson learned. There may not be much of a difference when they are 6,8 & 9 but there is quite a difference when they are 14, 13 and 11. I suppose we'll stick to the pre-teen improv comedy and theater for him, for a while and let the two that are actually over 13 do the PG-13 shows... And I'm cool with that.
Thoughts? Similar experiences? We are supposed to be the Worlds Greatest! It's a high standard to live up to!
Well, the older two really enjoyed it and said it was hilarious. The youngest... he was a little stunned upon pick up. He later explained that he thought it was funny and that it was definitely a good show - but there were parts that made him uncomfortable. I asked if he didn't understand some of it (was the humor perhaps going over his head?) Nope! He understood alright and the tone, inflection and facial blushing revealed to me that he understood more than he wanted to. Geeze! What kind of Mother am I anyway? No it wasn't even close to pornographic - I just used a grabby headline and you know it! Point is, I owned the fact that I lumped them all together and enjoyed a night out at a bar while they were at the show (talk about feeling like worlds worst Mom eh?) and apologized for making assumptions that unintentionally caused him discomfort.
Well, lesson learned. There may not be much of a difference when they are 6,8 & 9 but there is quite a difference when they are 14, 13 and 11. I suppose we'll stick to the pre-teen improv comedy and theater for him, for a while and let the two that are actually over 13 do the PG-13 shows... And I'm cool with that.
Thoughts? Similar experiences? We are supposed to be the Worlds Greatest! It's a high standard to live up to!
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