One of the main reasons I homeschool is to filter influences that affect my children. Call me over protective if you wish...I really don't care. Has anyone spent any time at all watching television, on the Internet, listening to the radio, reading a magazine? If you have surely you have seen or heard the bombardment of sexual content that is being hurled at our children.
"According to a recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average American child spends more than 38 hours a week on video games, music, TV, reading and their computers — nearly the equivalent of a full-time job. And the report notes that 68 percent of the material the children watch contains sexual content." (ABC's GMA report: Children Overly Exposed to Sex)
I don't know about you, but that is an alarming statistic. As much time as they spend in school, they are being exposed to damaging stuff. Heck, even *in* school they are potentially exposed to damaging stuff. A fellow homeschool mom sent her son to middle school so he could play sports. His first year in public middle school he was exposed to pornography. Needless to say, he was very quickly brought back home to continue homeschooling...by his own choice. Pornography addiction is a very real problem in society today. And both girls and boys are encouraged to have 'exclusive' relationships with the opposite sex. Why? When you are 12, WHY do you need a boy/girlfriend? It only adds fuel to the hormonal fire.
It's everywhere. Clothes shopping for little girls shouldn't have to involve the 'squat test' (my own term) to see if, when my daughter has on jeans or shorts, her bottom or underwear is exposed because of the low cut nature of the clothes. T-shirts are cut very narrow and expose every curve. Bathing suits are sometimes teeny weenie bikinis.
And the music. Don't get me started. Seeing little seven year old kids singing along with Lady Gaga and the like, singing suggestive lyrics. The images these celebrities portray...skimpy costumes, suggestive dance moves. Just watch an episode of 'Toddlers and Tiaras' sometime. You'll see what I am talking about.
Television. You can't hardly go to a 'family film' anymore without some sexual references thrown in.
Internet is no place for a child unless strictly supervised. Especially the social media realm. Have any of you seen some of the pictures posted by tween aged girls? You all know the look...pouty mouth, camera angle to show her body. And some of the comments ...wow.
Sometimes my kids ask why 'they' don't have a smart phone, or Facebook account, or have this album or that outfit.
Here is my answer: You can borrow my phone to call friends. You can play on games on the Internet that I approve and have saved on my 'Favorites' list. No surfing the net. Because there are so many things that, once you see them, you can't UNsee them. You need to respect yourself and wear clothing that honors you as a person and that honors God. No self respecting young lady exposes her body for everyone else to see.
Maybe I am 'uncool'. Maybe my kids will be social pariahs because they don't have access to these things. I don't care.
They have the rest of their lives to be exposed to the ugly things in this world. Right now I just want to fill up their minds and hearts with what is healthy and good.
But, boy, is it ever a battle.
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