Do you remember the ABC After School Specials?  

Yeah it was usually troubled teen stuff. I think it was good that they made kids feel "safe" to talk about those things instead of hiding it in the closet.

Oh that is such an awesome memory!!! Kids can be sooo cool sometimes and not even know it!

Your story brought to mind my son and nephew's first experience with "Where do babies come from?" Me and my two sisters were all pregnant at the same time. My nephew and son were both 2 years old. My sisters were due in October and November, I was due the next April. When it got close to time for my first sisters delivery, of course the boys asked how the baby gets out. Since they were very young, we weren't sure they could handle the whole explaination, so we merely started with "Mommies have a special place for babies to come out." They were happy with that so we let it go.

Well, my first sister had a C-Section. Everyone was concerened about the stitches so when the boys realized this is where the baby came out they decided the special place was the middle of the stomach. They were a bit confused as to why we didn't just say they cut Mommy open and take the baby out of the stomach. The next month my other sister has her baby - naturally. They boys wanted to see HER stitches. It was fun telling them that thier aunt used the special place and didn't have stitches like the other aunt. When I gave birth, they didn't even ask! They just kinda thought - "The baby's here, we don't care how it got here." But I will never forget the look of shock and terror when my son and newphew asked my 2nd sister if they could see her stitches!

Kids, gotta love 'em!

Those are both great stories. Kids can be so great with the things they come up with.

Yes, it's more like using the TV as a conversation starte with the kids instead of a babysitter. I thought the concept was a good one and wish it was still around.

I wish the tv show concept was still around, but I also wish that the concept of sitting around with the kids discussing what is on the tv was still around. You may have seen from other posts that I am really unhappy with the state of families in this country now days. I do think that "old fashioned" values coming back would make a huge difference in our society. The after school specials coming back would be a great start. More of those, less of the weird shows that encourage kids to treat their parents and everyone else around them like dirt.

I totally agree. I tried pretty hard to still have meaningful discussions with my kids - although finding the time was not always easy. Sometimes I feel like the parents think their responsibility stops at birth.

LOL I hope that no one thinks their responsibilities end at birth, but I hear you and you are right about some. I often wonder why some couples have kids. I have heard many times that the kids pull the couples down and don't allow them to do the things they want to do. It's really confusing and makes me wonder if we have become a society where we "take the next step" because that's what is expected of us.

They were a great forum for parents to start discussions with their children about important issues. It's sad that we seem to be too busy to do that now-a-days.

See, that's where there is a catch 22. If the shows aren't played anymore because the networks figure it wouldn't do any good, then the kids are the ones loosing out. I bet if kids were offered an alternative to what they are watching today it could change their thinking a little bit.

I do think they were a great avenue for helping parents talk to their kids about tough situations that go on. I guess now if it's not cool and exciting it's not going to make it. Not much thought-provoking material gets on the tube lately.

reiny, you are right about there not being much thought-provoking material on T.V. anymore. I think that is a problem for our kids now days. They aren't expected to think past the very minimum that is required of them. My daughter is in first grade. On her spelling test each week there are bonus words. I've volunteered in the classroom, so I know the teacher tells them these words are for "if you choose to give it a try". My daughter asks every week if she can just skip those. Her dad and I have told her every week that she is expected to at least try them. We don't expect her to get every one right, but we do expect effort. We have even erased complete homework pages and had her start again because it was just messy and had no thought put into it. Effort and expanded thinking is part of character in my opinion. Well, I'm off on a tangent. Sorry about that.

That's ok blueunicorn, I totally understand. You should find the discussion about the "new" no child left behind laws. You'd have a field day!!!

I have a feeling that I'd better just stay away from that one! LOL :)

Aww... c'mon... I have a feeling we would have the same responses... I could be wrong though...

I try to stay away from the discussions that would really irritate me. myLot is supposed to be where I come for relaxing time for me. There have been times I have walked away from the computer in such a funk that I just couldn't stand it. So... even though I'm not always successful I TRY to avoid getting too worked up by the discussions here! :)

Although my parents didn't use the programs as I would have - as a stepping stone for great converstaions with us - I did learn a lot from them also. I was a "good girl" too and rarely got into trouble - it wasn't worth the belt, brush, spoon, or whatever was handy.

Although I don't think Oprah and Rachel are bad, I don't think they compare to the After School Specials...

I haven't watched Oprah in forever, so I'm not sure if this would still apply, but... my mom and I used to watch Oprah together and discuss the issues that were on there, too. This, of course, was once I was in High School. I really learned a lot about debating respectfully and sharing ideas this way. Of course, my mom got to kind of gague where my thinking was and how my morals were developing. I have to say that not all "trash" tv is bad.

Um.... "as a kid"??? With American Gladiators??? Maybe you're not as close to my age as I thought... I'm sure you even told me, but I surely don't remember... See, my KIDS watched American Gladiators... And um... that's really all I remember about them - although I did watch with them and liked when they fought with the big q-tips standing on those poles...

btw - LOVE the new avitar, not as much as the bloody keyboard, but it'll do. I just have to get used to it!!! Glad to see ya 'round again :)

I'll be 36 in March girl. LOL

Yeah I must have been like 10 or 11, don't really remember my exact age, but I wasn't that old. lol I was such a Tom Boy growing up! I guess I still am in a way, a feminine Tom Boy lol

I just saw on PAX that Hulk Hogan was somehow involved in bringing the show back. I think that is why I used to watch it when I was younger, because my dad used to have me watching wrestling on Sunday mornings with him. lol

Bay xx

Well, you're 8 years younger than me, 12 years older than my kids... I guess it was on for a LONG time if they watched it when they were little. Geeze, that seemed like EONS ago!

I know they still show re-runs of the show on some channel we have. I just saw this come back thing for them on Sunday I think. I might have been older too, I don't really remember exactly how old I was, but I know I was young. lol

Just goes to show how fast time rolls by us. Let's not talk about it. LOL

Bay xx

You are too funny!

I do remember one about a girl drinking, but there were a ton of those on when I was a kid.

I don't know what show you mean with the Jack Terrier... I don't think I ever saw it... Might have to check it out :)

Wishbone was great! PBS occassionally brings it back for a short time, then it will go off again. I think they are desperately trying to keep interest in it. I just heard that they stopped printing the Wishbone books based on the show because of lack of interest. That was sad.

They were great shows for kids. I remember racing home to catch them all the time.