It seems like everyone in this world is angry these days.
All you need to do is turn on the news and you’ll see war, high crime rates, political rivalry and world turmoil. Of course the news loves to inflate these events for their own ratings, but it’s not hard to tell that we are living through some difficult times.
I’m old enough to remember the days of no cell phones, limited TV stations and no internet. To some people (especially the younger crowd), that seems like a travesty.
How did we ever get by not knowing what was going on with everyone else at all times during the day?
We seemed to live in a disconnected world, not in tune with every event like current times. And you know what, we were better off for it.
I don’t know about you, but I would love to go back to the days of no cell phones and internet. People actually talked to each other and sorted out their problems in person, not through thinly veiled tweets or Facebook posts, airing their dirty laundry for everyone to see. Family problems become public knowledge, as we all silently judge each other’s lives.
How many times have you seen a public debate online and scrolled through 100 posts to follow along? Kind of weird if you think about it. Almost like watching the neighbors fight through their window, except they left their window open on purpose so you could listen.
My parents often talk about their younger years growing up and it sounds heavenly compared to modern life. Since there was very little TV watching, people would sit on their porches at night during the summer and talk to their neighbors. Or go to each other’s houses and play cards, kids running around in the background.
That’s how you build personal relationships.
It didn’t matter if you didn’t agree on politics or religion, you knew these people personally and overlooked the differences in favor of the similarities.
I know I sound like I’m romanticizing the past, which I’m thoroughly guilty of. I often think about the early 1900’s – 1950’s and wonder if life was as idealistic as they show on TV. Men and women were more respectable and your family life wasn’t on display for all of society. Children were better behaved and communities worked together to raise them.
You didn’t worry about your kids being outside playing all day because everyone watched over each other’s kids. Okay, maybe it wasn’t that perfect. But it’s better than how it is today.
Kids don’t even go outside to play like they used to. Video games and TV have replaced bicycles and tag. Entertainment has taken on a whole new meaning but we as parents are so busy trying to keep up with the Jones’s that we don’t have time for puzzles and story time.
It’s not even all our fault, it’s the world we grew up in. If you’re in your 30-40’s you most likely grew up with some kind of cable and internet, even if it was later in life. So it’s mainstream for us and it will be even more so for our children as they raise their own babies.
So what’s the solution? Turn off all electronic devices and live like the Amish?
I tried that once. Turns out I REALLY like running water and electricity.
Can we really prevent kids from having access to cell phones and video games?
Instead, maybe we should try to work around the life given to us and make it work to our advantage. Here’s a couple of ideas to try. Like they say, if you can’t beat them, might as well join them.
Limit video games and make them a reward for good behavior instead of a distraction of bad behavior.
I personally don’t believe that all video games are bad.
When they were younger, my kids had the Leapfrog. Okay, okay, it’s not really a video game device, more like a hand held electronic device.
Either way, the kids loved working on letters and numbers and I found it to be a very educational investment. Try using it when things are calm and they can focus.
After chores and homework are done, let them play a few (safe) video games. If you’re feeling frisky, try joining in. I remember when my kids got Mario Brothers they used to ask me to get them past the hard parts. (Hey, I grew up with it too. 🤷).
Make a family game night and turn it into memories.
Use social media for good purposes, like sharing family photos and uplifting content.
It’s tempting to follow celebrities and news organizations on social media (guilty 🤚).
It’s a catch-22 though and it’s easy to get caught up in gossip and worldly events. There’s nothing wrong with staying informed, but if your news feed looks more like the scrolling banner on Fox or CNN, it may be time to hit the unfollow button.
I started following several Catholic Facebook pages and noticed I had less anxiety when I went online. Father Mike Schmitz is a great one to follow. He’s a very upbeat priest with a deep love of the Catholic faith. I often listen to his podcasts too and find his enthusiasm to be infectious. He’s also on Twitter (or X or whatever you want to call it).
Scott Hahn is another excellent follow. His book Rome Sweet Home is a touching story of his and his wife Kimberly’s conversion to the Catholic faith. He also lives close to my hometown, so that gives him bonus points from me.
But really, Scott and Kimberly have made it their mission to promote and live the Catholic faith. His posts on Facebook are often thought provoking and leaving you wanting to learn more.
Watch TV together as a family and make it family friendly content.
Growing up, when we did watch TV it was shows like Full House and Family Matters.
There was nothing controversial or racy in those shows and our parents didn’t have to sensor the content. Nowadays you can’t even turn on children’s programming without finding questionable content or racy commercials.
I don’t know why they need to have bra commercials on children’s television channels, but nothing really surprises me anymore when it comes to the media.
The good news is, there are several morally acceptable stations and shows that you can still feel good about. VeggieTales is one I liked watching with the kids. The show seems to focus on making good choices and the creators of the show are Christians.
Another good one is EWTN Kids. Their Animated Rosary for Kids is a great way to teach young children how to say the rosary. Matter of fact, EWTN has a whole catalogue of great shows for kids, titled My Little Angels.
If you must have cell phones, limit their use and monitor their content.
This one’s a tough one since families seem to be on the move so much these days.
Keeping in communication with your kids when they are away from home is a positive impact from cell phones. But they can easily get caught in the trap of TikTok, Snapchat and other social media outlets that have harmful programming.
While these apps aren’t necessarily bad in themselves, there is a LOT of questionable content on them. Thankfully, they make monitoring apps that can keep an eye on your children’s online activity.
You could also limit their screen time while at home and designate special times for their usage. Maybe after their homework or chores are done can you allow them a little bit of playtime. When time is up, the device is shutdown or put away.
Try not to let them take it to bed, as it’s been shown that cell phones keep children awake at night. If necessary, set the lock screen and only you or your spouse can open the device.
Go outside with your kids and play.
Last time I checked they still make kick balls and wiffle ball.
Honestly, my favorite part about being a parent was play time. Not only does it make you feel young (ha ha) but your kids will always remember that time you spent together.
We had family tournaments with multiple sports and got other family members involved too, like my dad and brother. My dad LOVED to take my kids to the ballpark or even play a game at home. That time he spent with them growing up is a memory they can always hold on to.
If you can’t get outside, then listen to music or get up and dance! Take turns playing your favorite songs and dancing along. Introduce your kids to different genres of music and help expand their interests.
I personally loved when my parents turned on their 60’s music and even my kids know a lot of songs from listening along while in the car with them. My own kids now listen to the music me and their dad played while they were growing up. We also used the Wii to play fun games like Just Dance. I think the Wii has changed to the Switch, but they still make Just Dance.
And I have a gold mine of videos of the kids and their dad dancing along.
Go visit family and friends.
It’s time to bring back the get-togethers.
Play a game of cards, tell stories, work on a project together. I don’t know about you, but I used to love it when my parents’ family would get together and tell stories about them growing up. It made me feel connected to my grandparents and aunts and uncles, plus it’s fun to hear about how life used to be.
Establish community relationships with your neighbors.
I grew up in a neighborhood with about 30 kids and all of our parents knew each other.
I still think about all of them and these families established a bond that will never be forgotten. I know this isn’t possible for everyone, but if you can, try to get to know the people you live by. Knowing them on a personal level is not only great for strengthening the neighborhood, it’s also great for your kids to see that real life friends are more important than the ones online.
Join a Church or local organization.
Teaching kids how to be a part of something bigger than themselves will instill a sense of charity in them.
Churches, clubs and charities are great ways to get involved and give back to others. You could even use modern technology to help these organizations to grow. Most people running these types of places aren’t as technologically savvy as today’s youth. Help them by using social media for promoting good ideas or local events.
Get inspired by modern day saints.
Blessed Carlo Acutis was an amazing young man who died of leukemia at the tender age of 15.
From a young age, Carlo had a great love for God, the Blessed Sacrament, the Rosary and the Church. Even though his parents weren’t particularly devout, Carlo showed great interest in the Catholic faith, even attending weekly confession. He became particularly interested in the lives of the saints and Eucharistic miracles.
Carlo was also an enthusiastic gamer and programmer, creating a website dedicated to cataloging Eucharistic miracles. He used modern technology for the greater good, a lesson for all of us. Carlo is also the first saint to be buried in a pair of jeans and Nikes. His feast day is October 12th and he is the patron saint for computer programmers and youth.
Conclusion
Not every modern invention has to be bad for us.
If we look for the opportunities, we can use them to make the world a better place. Unfortunately, there are always going to be people or businesses that manipulate technology to their own advantages, or worse yet use it to intentionally corrupt society. But we have it our power to turn them into good.
And if we take the time to look, those opportunities exist in a lot of areas of our life. Serving God is all about doing so on His terms, so maybe we were born for this time in history to turn evil into good.
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