The Scene staff
I have a confession to make: I love reality TV.
Each week, I carve time out of my hectic schedule of school, work and family to glue myself to the couch and absorb all the garbage being thrown at me from the television.
And yes, I realize the shows are scripted. Do the producers really expect us to believe the Kardashians work out all their family problems by the end of each hour-long episode?
Or what about the raunchy show “Love and Hip Hop Atlanta”?
No way would Kirk have the audacity to play his wife like that on national television.
To fellow fans, if you bought into that scenario, then as Tamar from the reality show “Braxton Family Values” would say, “Go have several seats.”
But as much as I love to witness all of the juicy drama, I realize I shouldn’t be patronizing this buffoonery. A little voice inside my head is saying, “Turn it off!”
We’re not even going to discuss the guilt that consumes me every time my 10-year-old daughter enters the room.
I have to quickly escort her out while I’m watching these shows because I don’t want her believing that she should model herself after these women “stars.”
The harsh reality, however, is that if she shouldn’t be watching it, neither should I. Ouch! I think I just got hit by a hard piece of truth.
I have enough common sense to shield my daughter, but there are so many young, impressionable girls who buy into these shows. Television is teaching them that sex sells.
In fact, one of the stars of “Love and Hip Hop Atlanta” recently sold a sex tape of her and her boyfriend. It became one of the most popular sex tapes in history.
And we all know Kim Kardashian became famous for lying on her back.
It’s not just reality television. Beyonce and Rihanna’s music videos might as well go in the soft-porn section, too.
Yet these are the women we allow our daughters to idolize.
Does anyone else see the destructive path our society is heading down? Where will we be as a country in the next 10 years?
Reality TV shows are teaching our young people that casual sex is the new norm, and that when your marriage doesn’t make you happy, you should just move on to a new lover.
It saddens me to say this, but I can’t even imagine what the average family will look like in the future.
Wake up, people! The world of entertainment and social media is slowly destroying the structure of the American family.
Don’t believe me? Scroll down a teenager’s Facebook page.
I have a 13-year-old son, and I periodically check out his page. I shake my head as I see baby-faced girls posing for pictures with their shirts slightly lifted and their backsides sticking out.
They are mimicking what they see through social media. These babies are selling themselves and don’t even know it.
I realize that many children live in single-parent homes, so Mom is at work while they’re rearing themselves. But come on, parents, we have to do better!
What’s worth more to you, your children having the next pair of Jordans or them getting the quality time they so desperately need?
If you make the wrong choice, the Kim Kardashians and Mi Mi Fausts will be rearing your daughter.
I come from a single-parent home, so I know the sacrifices my mother had to make for me and my siblings. When she wasn’t around to give me the quality time I needed, someone else did.
I found myself going down the wrong path, but fortunately I got back on track.
Now I’d be lying if I were to promise that I’d stop watching these shows. Yes, I’ll admit that I’ve bought into them as a form of mere entertainment.
But I plan to show my daughters how to be women. I challenge other mothers and guardians out there to do the same.
I’ve had to make some financial sacrifices to be home with my children and go to school full-time. My family has faced many financial challenges because of this, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Don’t trade priceless quality time with your children for material luxuries. If you don’t take the time to spend with them, somebody else will.