GTL and other nonsense

It's Friday.  Friday means laundry.  Since we are in Baltimore that means an early morning and a chance to hit the gym before the sun comes up.  So, I have already done two of the popular GTL combo.  WHAT?????  Here is where my soapbox comes scooting underfoot.

The fact that I even know what a GTL is (gym-tan-laundry) let alone where the phrase comes from (that awful MTV show Jersey Shore) and, worse yet, who says it the most ("The Situation" yup, that's his name!) makes my head spin.  I don't watch tv, much less that show, but I know all about it.  So, if I know this much about it - what do our children, who have seen whole episodes, know???

This group of hard partying, overly tan, gel-haired, 20-somethings has the attention of our children, not just in the hour they are watching the show but, obviously, during the other 23 hours of the day too.  I have not seen even 5 minutes of this show and I know way more than I ever should.  I feel my IQ dropping just mentioning these attention mongers.

It' not just Jersey Shore.  Bad Girls Club, Teen Mom, 16 and Pregnant, I Just Want My Pants Back and MORE are telling our kids that no morals, sex before marriage and parental disrespect are the norm and if they want to fit in this is the way they need to be too.

What are we as parents doing to counteract this attack on our children??  Sadly, most of us aren't doing anything.  Too many parents are more worried about being their kid's friend rather than their parent.  "NO" is not a bad word.  Boundaries are not cruel.  And, setting standards for appropriate behavior and dress does not make you a mean parent.

By no means do I have it this parenting-in-a-social-media-generation thing figured out.  I can't stand the music the kids listen to but, no where in the Bible have I found "Thou shalt not listen to gangsta rap."  It does have plenty of other passages that help me navigate today's culture.

We, as parents, need to start by becoming the person we want our child to be.  If we can't explain to our children why it's ok to rent that movie, download that song or frequent that web site then we need to change our media choices too.  

Like I said, I don't have this all figured out but I do know where I can always find the right answers and I don't have to worry about the content when I read it to the kids!  More Bible, less People parents!