The State of the Media - a short social studies lesson for any family

Last night President Obama delivered his fifth State of the Union address. My 12-year-old and I sat down to watch the last few minutes and some of the media coverage, as well as the Republican response.

My 8-year-old became interested as well as mommy began interjecting commentary into the programs, as I'm sure many citizens across the country did. My boys began asking pointed questions about the differences between what was being said in each speech and by the news commentators afterwards.

We discuss politics a lot with our boys, so this wasn't anything new. What was new, and what our lesson evolved into, was that they were catching the partisan messages coming across in the news commentary as we switched channels and listened to the reports.

I began to explain that different news networks covered stories with different slants. We went to the internet to see some examples in the newly posted headlines from the speeches that were given. I wish I would have taken screen-shots from the headlines we viewed, because their stark contrast was so amazingly clear that even my younger son picked up on it. "But, Mom, CNN makes it sound like this when FOX is making it sound like that!" Yes, son. Welcome to the world of the partisan media.

Now, this is not a blog about which is right or wrong, or being conservative or liberal. What it is about is teaching our children to become discerning consumers of media, and being discerning ourselves. I admit, for a long time I was not. I was more of an ostrich with its head in the sand, just ignoring it altogether as much as I could. I wonder how many Americans are still in that place.

"But, Mom, how can they do that?! Isn't the news supposed to just state the facts?"

Now, of course, I could have launched into a big moral speech about how the media needs to be doing a better job. But, really, in all honesty, what I said to my son was... "Honey, these people are just human, too." I went on to point out that each of us has our own beliefs and some we are very passionate about and asked if they thought they would be able to completely leave their beliefs out of things if they had the opportunity to be heard by a lot of people and possibly sway others to your opinion. It would be hard! I'm not sure I could do it. In fact, I'm sure I couldn't. I'm too opinionated.

Now, do I just let the media off and say, "Oh, well. People will be people?" No. I do believe they should hold themselves to a higher moral standard or put a system of checks and balances in place. But can I do anything about that? I suppose I could do it by not watching the mainstream news networks on TV or the internet. Where I really feel my power lies is in my children, though.

If I can teach my children to understand that news can be, and often is, delivered with a slant because of the network's or individual's personal filter, I can teach them to be discerning media consumers and check their facts before they believe something. Of course, this argument could be pushed to the point of instilling cynicism, and I don't want that for my kids. I just want them to be wise, ...and not bullied.

So, I encourage you to have this discussion with your kids. Go to the internet, pick out headlines from different news networks or newspapers that are all on the same topic and discuss how the headline makes that story sound. Do they use positive or negative words? Do they seem to be making accusations?

You can, of course, go on to discuss what your family's beliefs are on the topic, but be sure to point out the differences in stories and ask your kids why they think that is and what they should do it about it. Lead them to an understanding that they need to be wise before deciding to believe something they read or hear.

Where did that Man-Child come from?!

Well, it is official. My oldest son is taller than me and has the same size shoe as my husband. Where did this man-child come from?!

I used to joke that it was "the hormones in the milk" that caused all this crazy growth, and sadly while that may be true to a degree, I know it is also the wonderful natural process of growing up. And while facial hair, pimples, stinky armpits and irrational mood-swings aren't always a walk in the park, I can say for the most part that having a pre-teen is a wonderful experience. I am more often in danger of swelling from pride than perturbed.

 

There are many lists floating around these days of the 20 things a mom should be sure to say to her son. Here is a bit of a different list. These are five scriptural truths I know about parenting that go into raising him up to be the excellent young man that he is with the goal of becoming the man God has for him to be...

 



1. I rest assured that God has a plan for his life, so I don't have to interject my will over what he is to become. (For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord... Jeremiah 29:11)

 

2. I am confident that his faith will sustain him because he has made the choice to follow Christ. (Raise a child up in the way he should go... Proverbs 22:6)

 

3. I don't have to over-schedule his days ~ I can let him play and be a child without fear that he will miss out on every little experience. (There is a time for every activity under heaven... Ecclesiastes 3:1)

 

4. I don't have to rescue him from his poor choices; I can be confident that allowing him to learn from natural consequences is beneficial. (...we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope... Romans 5:3-45)

 

5. I can expect him to do chores as part of the family team without feeling guilty for it, knowing that it is forming a life-long work ethic. (Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as unto the Lord... Colossians 3:23)

 

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of the Bible and the wisdom that the scriptures are saturated with. Help me, please, to always parent according to your will. Amen.

 

Will you pray this prayer with me today and raise your child "in the way that they should go?"  

What are your favorite verses that help you parent?