Probably 18 years ago, I heard a story - I think it was in the New Era - about movies (and really all media) that has become the "standard" at our house. It's a story about "One Bad Part". Have you ever watched (or read) something with just "one bad part"? Have you ever described a movie or book to a friend and said, "There's only one bad part in it"? I have done that countless times.
The story goes like this...
A father was weary of his teens always trying to get him to let them see something by saying, "But Dad, it's only got ONE BAD PART!" So, he decided to give them a very graphic example of this. One night for FHE (Family Home Evening), he told the kids he was going to make his special EXTRA THICK Milkshakes for dessert. At our house, it would be like Mark telling the kids he was going to make his Chocolate Chip Cookies (he makes the BEST ones ever!). The kids were excited for this treat. So, after the lesson, they all crowded in the kitchen to wait for Dad's yummy shakes. He made them extra thick with extra good ingredients. He got the first batch all done in the blender and then turned to his children and said, "I have a REALLY special ingredient tonight for these shakes!" Then, he unfolded a napkin on the counter, pulled out a dead fly and dropped it in the blender. Then he blended the shake one more time before pulling out the glasses and pouring it. Of course his kids thought he was nuts and there was NO WAY they were going to drink the shake with a dead fly mixed in it.
Guess what he said to them... "But kids, I don't know what you're so upset about. There's just ONE BAD PART. The rest is good!" Priceless...
A video from seminary comes to mind, too. I love it and really should try to track down a copy of it. It's got a young women all in white (pants and shirt) living in a completely white home - white couch, carpet, etc). Someone stops by who looks "shady" and at first, she refuses to let him in. But he convinces her to finally. He comes in and sits down and immediately, you see he has tracked footprints on the carpet. Then his briefcase starts to ooze black. Pretty soon, she and her home are covered with dirt. It's a great visual about being careful what you let in your home.
So, what do WE do at our house when it comes to movies? Mark and I don't watch anything we wouldn't let our kids watch. Not that they would WANT to watch it, but we keep it clean. Your kids get a mixed message when you say things like "it's a movie for grown-ups", or "it's not appropriate for children". N is too smart for that - he will immediately say, "Then why are YOU watching it if it's not good?"
One thing we have found and LOVE is Clearplay! The Clearplay DVD player filters movies! We don't use it to watch R-rated movies - we don't even use it to watch many PG-13 movies, but it takes anything out of the PG movies that we don't want to see. For instance, "ET" is great - except for "one bad part". With Clearplay - it's GONE! You hardly notice. Either the scene gets deleted or the movie goes mute for a second. Our kids know that if we won't let them see a movie in the theater because we are uncomfortable with the content, that they usually will be able to see it using the Clearplay later. And, when we bring a DVD home from the video store, they always ask, "Is there a filter for this?"
Like the music, I would LOVE to believe that our boys will always refuse to go to an R-rated movie with friends. But, I'm not sure they always will say, "Nope" when asked by friends. But, for now, they have a solid foundation on at least what our expectations are. And, when the come out of that movie that they know they weren't supposed to go to in the first place, I hope they will feel a little like the woman in the white house who opened her pure, clean self to filth.
The story goes like this...
A father was weary of his teens always trying to get him to let them see something by saying, "But Dad, it's only got ONE BAD PART!" So, he decided to give them a very graphic example of this. One night for FHE (Family Home Evening), he told the kids he was going to make his special EXTRA THICK Milkshakes for dessert. At our house, it would be like Mark telling the kids he was going to make his Chocolate Chip Cookies (he makes the BEST ones ever!). The kids were excited for this treat. So, after the lesson, they all crowded in the kitchen to wait for Dad's yummy shakes. He made them extra thick with extra good ingredients. He got the first batch all done in the blender and then turned to his children and said, "I have a REALLY special ingredient tonight for these shakes!" Then, he unfolded a napkin on the counter, pulled out a dead fly and dropped it in the blender. Then he blended the shake one more time before pulling out the glasses and pouring it. Of course his kids thought he was nuts and there was NO WAY they were going to drink the shake with a dead fly mixed in it.
Guess what he said to them... "But kids, I don't know what you're so upset about. There's just ONE BAD PART. The rest is good!" Priceless...
A video from seminary comes to mind, too. I love it and really should try to track down a copy of it. It's got a young women all in white (pants and shirt) living in a completely white home - white couch, carpet, etc). Someone stops by who looks "shady" and at first, she refuses to let him in. But he convinces her to finally. He comes in and sits down and immediately, you see he has tracked footprints on the carpet. Then his briefcase starts to ooze black. Pretty soon, she and her home are covered with dirt. It's a great visual about being careful what you let in your home.
So, what do WE do at our house when it comes to movies? Mark and I don't watch anything we wouldn't let our kids watch. Not that they would WANT to watch it, but we keep it clean. Your kids get a mixed message when you say things like "it's a movie for grown-ups", or "it's not appropriate for children". N is too smart for that - he will immediately say, "Then why are YOU watching it if it's not good?"
One thing we have found and LOVE is Clearplay! The Clearplay DVD player filters movies! We don't use it to watch R-rated movies - we don't even use it to watch many PG-13 movies, but it takes anything out of the PG movies that we don't want to see. For instance, "ET" is great - except for "one bad part". With Clearplay - it's GONE! You hardly notice. Either the scene gets deleted or the movie goes mute for a second. Our kids know that if we won't let them see a movie in the theater because we are uncomfortable with the content, that they usually will be able to see it using the Clearplay later. And, when we bring a DVD home from the video store, they always ask, "Is there a filter for this?"
Like the music, I would LOVE to believe that our boys will always refuse to go to an R-rated movie with friends. But, I'm not sure they always will say, "Nope" when asked by friends. But, for now, they have a solid foundation on at least what our expectations are. And, when the come out of that movie that they know they weren't supposed to go to in the first place, I hope they will feel a little like the woman in the white house who opened her pure, clean self to filth.
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2 comments:
Nice blog! I read todays post and I'm already hooked.....tfs.
Yes, I remember that movie too! I think I may have it. Since it's an "older" seminary movie it's out. I'll let you know when I fine it.
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