Please...just let your kid watch television....stop trying to be a "good" parent that doesn't allow your child to be corrupted by the horror of the TV. 

I love parents that say this.  That they don't want their child exposed to the violence on television....or that TV before they're 2 years of age does something to their development. 

Here's the thing.  We were all raised on TV...and most of us...well, we came out just fine.  And let's face it; the chances of your child growing up to be "Boy Genius" or even a road scholar are pretty thin....so do you need to make them even more bizarre and unprepared for this great big world by sheltering them from what is really, and actually out there beyond their front door?

Let's tackle the first one...the violence.  Guess what guys...it's really out there.  Now if you're lucky you and your family will never be touched by it.  And I do understand sheltering them when they are young and still innocent.  There is an appropriate time to expose them to reality TV and the violence that is in our movies and CSI's.  But they do need to be exposed....for their own safety...saying nothing of acceptance by their peers when they attend public school.  If they are 14 and can't talk about the Real World at the lunch table, they may be shunned...it's a sad truth, I know.

I know that when my daughter goes off to college (and it will be one of 4 top schools in the country that we will groom her for) she will be prepared for what is really out there.  She will never travel alone at night.  She will never set her drink down at a party...because she will know what a "Rufee" is.  She will understand that someone will swipe her meal card, and that people will let her down (not her parents however.)  She will be prepared.  Prepared because she learned about the world outside of Westmoreland.  Learned from, God for bid, TV....eeewwww....and movies, and music, as well as from real world experiences.  I hope that she joins club in school that deal with real issues...DARE, and SADD, maybe volunteer with the homeless.  I want her ready for this great big world, so when the time is right, she will be exposed to it all, and prepared in a way that she is always safe.  Street smarts...that's what we hope to arm her with in addition to her vast intellect.

So what about it delaying development.  Really?  Do you really think that Baby Einstein or Sesame Street hurts your kid?  Do you think it does more damage then what can be done by the tired and worn down mom that feels like she's just going to snap if she doesn't get five minutes.  Cartoons are not going to hurt them...I don't care what your experts have told you.  I'm certainly not saying that you should park them in front of the TV for hours on end, but put in an Elmo DVD and take a freakin' shower.  It's not going to hurt them in the slightest, and you will get some much needed down time...or the time you needed to do the laundry or cook dinner.  If in the end you really feel that bad about it, read him a book.  I'm sure that quality time with super mom and an open book will undo all the damage that Barney just did.

I say, come down off your high, I'm better then all the other mommies horse and let them be kids.  Let them watch television and movies made for kids.  Cartoon are alright.  I mean most of us were raised on Scooby and Bugs Bunny.  Did you know that Shaggy was a stoner at the time?  I certainly didn't.  And I never once thought it would be okay to hit someone over the head with an anvil because the Coyote survived it.  They are not going to corrupt your children....worse case scenario....they turn out normal...and more importantly they will be less likely to get the shit beat out of them in school.

.....just wait till I get going on video games.....