So You Don’t Think We’re Just Mean Ol’ Farts
Here’s an article about why children, especially teens, should not have TVs or computers in their rooms.
Melvin and I talk all the time about how we’ll raise Avery. One of the things we disagree about is whether or not to allow a computer in Avery’s room. I say no, of course he says yes (he’s a total geek, remember?). After reading the article though, I’m sure he’ll change his vote.
The tv thing, however, was a no-brainer. With the exception of PBS, everything on network tv is trash, so what’s the point? And you could forget about a DVD player in the room — I got all sorts of bad ideas as a child watching movies I shouldn’t have been watching in the privacy of my bedroom.
And if my parents should read this, please don’t blame yourselves. I know I drove you guys crazy begging for a VHS player for my 13th birthday. I also know you expected me to follow movie ratings when I rented movies from Erol’s (a now defunct video rental place for those too young to remember). But guess what guys? I didn’t always watch age-appropriate movies. At 13, I was watching movies that were rated NC-17, R, or NR. Blame it on the pimply-faced, metal-mouth CSR at Erol’s who never bothered to check my age.
Another reason why allowing me to have a tv in my room was not the brightest thing my parents ever came up with was it encouraged me to live in my own little world. As do most teens all over the universe, I thought my parents were the corniest people on earth at that stage. I wanted to spend as little time as possible with them and the tv gave me an easy excuse. Instead of saying to them, “The thought of simultaneously having explosive, bloody diarrhea and green, projectile vomiting is more pleasurable than the thought of having to spend another second with you.”, I just said, “I’m going up to my room to watch tv.” With my parents never being ones to force interaction, it was always ok with them.
So yep, in retrospect the tv in my room was probably not a good idea. I should’ve learned about the birds and the bees from my parents and not “Purple Rain“. And instead of running away from my parents because I thought they were corny, I should’ve, well, no, they really were corny so my running away from them was totally justified 
And although we’ve provided an article + firsthand account of my experience, Avery will probably still think we’re mean ol’ farts because we won’t let him have a tv and/or a computer in his room. Oh well. If he hates us because we only want what’s best for him, then our jobs as parents are done.
Oh yuck, I sound like a true parent.
GROSS!!