Simplifying life answers problems

Perhaps it’s because she was not elected to office and does not

have a constituency or army of lobbyists to whom she must curry

favor. Maybe it’s because she doesn’t like the skits on “Saturday

Night Live” that make fun of her family. Or is, as I believe, simply

a matter of integrity and deep caring?

Whatever it was that prompted first lady Laura Bush to tell

parents to turn off their TVs last Wednesday, I applaud it. Mrs. Bush

said young children should not “watch those images over and over” on

television.

This not the first time Laura Bush has told Americans to turn off

the tube. On Sept. 13, 2001 Mrs. Bush told CNN’s John King: “I hope

that parents pay close attention to their kids. The first step is to

prevent children from watching television over and over and instead

do something constructive like write letters to local police and fire

department and expressing their feeling by drawing pictures or just

talking.”

Given that she is part of a very political family these are very

powerful words. After all, her father-in-law, her brother-in-law and

her husband have all used and been used by television to gain

governorships and presidencies. Without television coverage, their

political careers would have been toast.

Since I have a snowball’s chance in you-know-where of getting an

interview with her, I can only guess that Laura Bush’s advice came

from the heart and that she is genuinely interested in the welfare of

children. I believe she has seen that America has developed many ways

in which families can easily get torn apart. Television is but one.

In America, it is easy to get a divorce. If your spouse snores too

loud or if you’ve found someone new, no problem -- just get a lawyer

and leave your kids behind.

We allow ourselves or our children to be isolated by “personal

entertainment” meant only for one and then wonder why communication

has broken down.

And we’ve put such a low value on integrity that our children

cannot help but learn that it is OK to lie, cheat and steal,

particularly if you are the head of a large corporation. These events

do not happen in a vacuum. Kids watch and they absorb. They also

mirror the behavior that if left unchecked, is often

self-destructive.

Most parents just don’t have the time anymore to monitor all of

the bad influences on their kids. Part of that is because we are busy

running around trying to keep them in activities in which they won’t

have the chance to get into trouble or become harmed.

Two days ago, I spoke to one parent who told me that her son is

playing AYSO soccer and baseball. That means four practices a week, a

soccer game on Saturday and a baseball game on Sunday.

I sometimes wonder just for whom all these activities are for.

Most of the kids don’t mind but then most of them have never known

any other life, either. They’ve always been the subject of a hectic

schedule.

All this running around and organizing and commotion leaves no

time to sit down and write the letters or do the talking that Laura

Bush recommends. If you doubt this, ask yourself how long it has been

since you sat down and wrote someone a letter and mailed it. Birthday

cards and such are not included.

Nearly 100% of the readers of this column would reply that they

cannot remember or that it has been years.

I know that you were expecting this to be a call for turning off

the TV, but it’s not. It’s a call for some simplicity, for an easier

way of life that will allow us to hang out with our kids instead of

shipping them off to yet another camp or league or activity.

We have made life complicated, which has made it easier to be

apart.

Our new house requires a lot of attention. But I have noticed that

while we have been divvying up the duties, we have been spending a

lot more time at home together. It’s not always fun, in fact it’s a

lot of work. But we are together and I’d like to believe that the

first lady would be proud of us for taking her advice and trying to

pay closer attention to our kids.

I don’t have any hope that the president will turn off his

televisions. In fact, I’m not so sure that’s a good idea for the

leader of the free world. But as long as he’s watching I hope he’ll

watch “Saturday Night Live” to get a chuckle out of the skits.

* STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and freelance writer.

Readers may leave a message for him on the Daily Pilot hotline at

(949) 642-6086.