I’ve found a solution
For a long time now, I’ve disparaged families who are so negligent as to “use the TV as a babysitter.” I had my reasons:
TV are stuupid. Television is designed to pitch to the widest possible audience. In part, this is usually accomplished by also pitching to the lowest common denominator. This means that most television, even movies is noticeably lacking in any kind of content which might require an attention span. But people only mature and become capable of working with more complex information by being regularly exposed to stuff that is beyond what they’re actually used to. You don’t improve in anything unless you have to struggle a bit. Since TV constantly pitches low, a regular diet of television makes you dumb.
TV are annoying. Young children are geared toward repetition and memorization. Which means that, even if you find a way to expose your kids only to “smart TV,” they’re going to want to be watching it a great deal more than an adult is quite prepared to tolerate. I don’t care how much better than the standard fare Thomas the Tank Engine is. It’s not good enough for me to have to memorize it. And I don’t know that I want my kids memorizing it either. OK. Maybe Veggie Tales songs. But I have limits.
Unfortunately, ideals are all wonderful until you encounter real life, in which a child requires a great deal of stimulation. In particular, my child, from as young as 3 weeks, needed something to be going on all the time or he became terribly bored. And since, he was essentially immobile without assistance, bored means crying. And both of us, I’ve discovered, are awfully quite people. There’s not a lot that goes on in our house that could be described as visually interesting. We talk; we read; we type. I think we have a fascinating and intellectually stimulating family culture. But to a person who hasn’t worked out the mechanics of speech yet, let alone reading, well it’s agonizing.
Valerie has coped with this by being a mom. I am constantly amazed at her ability to play with David, talk to him, repeat the same baby games until he screams in laughter. Me – I have a limit of about 5-6 repetitions before I tire out. Occasionally I get him to smile.
But now… I’m staying home and looking for work online whilst my dearest is working part time. So 10 to 15 hours a week right now, it’s me and the babe. And not only am I lousy at entertaining him, I’ve got some other work that is really kind of important. I’ve got to give him something.
Well, I think I’ve hit on it. He needs something abrupt and entertaining. Colorful, but not stupid. I need something that I won’t mind if it gets stuck in both of our heads, but at the same time won’t interrupt me from my work (unlike blogging). What I need is high quality TV without words.
Bingo. Fantasia. As I type I hear peals of laughter at uh… dancing mushrooms.
And for the record: as good as Fantasia 2000 is, it’s just not nearly as good as the original. The original movie had something that no sequel afterward will ever have: W. Disney. That movie has his personality all over it. It is at once more reticent and bolder than any modern movie being made.
Obscure for those outside the nerd world:
I say hyphenation is cheating
Kyle, this is incredible! I am blown away. Very profound and thought provoking. I wish you the best and I know you will serve our country well. God bless you and your family.
All I can say is what the Lord once said to me — I know that’s very subjective.
But I once spent a great deal of time repenting of my feelings. I considered my feelings the TRUE expression of me. Once in the midst of such a repentence, The Lord broke in and said. That’s not who you are — it’s just how you feel
Similiar thing happened when we first moved to Tulsa. I was simply contemplating my last few months working with children in Lawton; ruminating on the adage that you can’t fool a child. Thinking, yes, you can. I fooled them every week. I didn’t love them but they thought I did. Again, I was interrupted when the Lord said, that was love. Love isn’t a warm fuzzy feeling — it’s what you do and you LOVED those children for me.
One of the most powerful teachings I have hung onto through the years came from a converted Jewish woman whose name I have forgotten. She was the speaker at a retreat I went to when we first moved to Lawton. The series of messages was Obedience: Squeals, Squawks and the deluxe combo. Squealing obedience was when what we’re given to do is exactly what we want to do and we squeal with joy. Squawking obedience is the opposite. And the dexlue combo are those situations that begin either squeaking or squawking and then the experiences reverses itself. The point she made over and over again was that if we obeyed regardless of our feelings [squawking] The Lord would write in His book _________obeyed me, one more time.
I think feelings matter but I don’t find evidence God is judging us by them. He is moved by the feelings of our infirmities.
Side bar — but we all have ways we used to “fix” ourselves when our feelings begin to overwhelm us – my pesonal favorite is worship. Which anyone can do driving down the road. Lenghty devotions are not the only solution. Kerry uses worship and also has a wonderful testimony of using just giving thanks.
How in the world are you having time to listen to so many messages and post reviews in the afternoon? Are you leading a double life? I am jealous, I never have that kind of time with my work…
I think the poem is spot-on, having lived on an anvil of late. Thanks for transcribing it! Hope I get a semi-noble part.
I don’t have time to read any more. But I have plenty of time to listen. In due deference though, I didn’t transcribe it. The lovely folks at Dave Harvey’s church sent me a copy when they wrote back to me.
I did put in the proper line breaks, tho’.
It seems there were only the two entrants. So who won?
Hope everything’s ok. Our prayers are with you guys.
When is his appointment with a neuro?
Dang! What would a person do with nearly 9 gallons of mince meat?!
I do happen to like mince meat pie, though my tastes are probably off since I’m used to the store bought stuff. Still, 9 gallons…
Blegh. I remember what happened the last time mincemeat was consumed in our family.
MMM, that does sound good. Next time you cook up a batch send me a couple of cans
.