week ending aug 30, 2009

Week ending Aug 30, 2009: I should have anticipated the results of the teacher allowing the kids to help create the rules at school: Chloe wants to set her own rules at home. I didn’t say “no”, I said “what rule would you want to set?” She said “more TV time”. I said “do you want to be smart when you grow up so you can get a good job and earn lots of money and buy a nice house?” She said “Yes”. I said “then you need to spend your time learning, playing, and exercising. TV is just a waste of time.” She said that she learns to read and count by watching TV. I asked what she learned from “The Penguins of Madagascar” (a very silly show). Chloe admitted she didn’t learn anything from that show. Alex said he learned fighting skills. Chloe asked why they make TV if it is a waste of time. At least I diverted the argument without being the bad guy! One benefit of the kids being away for several hours is that I got the housework done and got a break from 20 questions such that I didn’t mind participating in this particular debate (it never hurts when I win the debate either). Although I will concede Chloe one point, she said “you spend all day on the computer and that’s a waste of time”. Ouch!

We took advantage of one of our last weekdays together before school starts to visit some local toy stores with the twins and update their wish lists. I’ve posted the results on-line.