Family Conference! TV

Cliff: I want to have a family conference about TV. There's sickness, filth, vile corruption, madness, anguish, and tyranny on TV these day. In order to protect you from some of these influences, we need to talk about them so you can avoid being sucked into the abyss and being impregnated with desires that are manufactured through the airwaves. If we get one, we need to lay down some standards and rules so we can avoid some arguments and confusion later on.

Lochlan: OK. Here's what I think. What are my thoughts?? I want to play video games. Fun ones... like the Killers of the Killers of the Whoop-de-doos.

(After talking for a while about various ideas)

Cliff: Let's review:

No video games before noon.

Video games on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday only. And school trumps these. School always gets done first.

Max one hour per day.

Fun movie night once a week even if it's on a video game day.

They can forfeit the video game time for another fun movie night if chosen.

Commercial-free educational shows at parent's discretion. (National Geographic or educational shows for school.)

Lochlan: Did you know remote control helicopters can cut my fingers off?

Cliff: Yes, but we are not talking about that right now.

College and NFL football (or any show with commercials) with adult in room only and adult discretion.

Mason: What if you lose an hour or can't play your game one day?

Cliff: You're not entitled to these times. It's just a limit.

Lochlan: Sooo, we're not going to get the game the Killers of the Whoop-de-doos?

Cliff: If you can find a game with that name, we'll consider it.

Cliff: This adds up to lots of screen time, and there will be days when we don't all get the max amount of screen time.

Kaiah: What about limits for the adults?

Cliff: Excellent question! (Looks at me) If one of us goes to bed, I'd like to see us both go to bed at the same time, even if a Diagnosis Murder marathon comes on...

Me: (Rolls eyes) Sounds good.

Lochlan: Can I play games like Madden? Or Cheese Bob (Sponge Bob)?

Cliff: Cheese Bob is not going to be a game that we play in our house.

Cliff: Ok meeting adjourned.