Michaela's Muses: The modern kid

I have talked about this before, so I am sorry if I sound like a broken record. Kids aren't allowed to be kids anymore.

Not like they used to, anyway.

This may come as a shock, but I didn't watch TV until I was in middle school. Many of my generation grew up watching Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel. When I finally did join the scene, my parents couldn't afford cable or any platforms that allowed a lot of channels. So I was limited to PBS Kids, Cartoon Network and the opera classics channel.

I was allowed one hour on the weekends to watch a show, movie or play a video game. Oh yeah, that's right, I had a Wii. The requirement was that I had to finish homework, read a couple chapters of whatever book I was into at the time and all my chores had to be done. My free time was spent reading, throwing the baseball around at the park with my parents or playing a board game with them.

As a kid, this seemed totally outrageous to me, of course, but now I look back and think this was probably a really good thing in the long run.

Today, I see kids on phones, tablets, Switches, etc., etc. The chance that I see kids with their parents at the park is minimal. Kids don't read as much as they used to. Parents are always pushing a screen in their kid's face(s) because they don't want to be bothered. Their kids are just a nuisance at this point. No, I am not saying all parents are like this, but I do notice when every table at Chile's has a kid staring at a screen as they eat their chicken tenders in a zombie-like manner.

What is even more sad is the parents are also staring at a screen.

When did we become zombies?

And I say "we" because I, too, am guilty of falling into a trance when I spend hours scrolling on Instagram. I am trying to get away from that.

So I got myself a library card and now, whenever I feel bored, I pick up a library book and read.

I don't have kids yet, but I think I may follow in my parent's footsteps by limiting screen time when they are young. I believe kids should be going outside, getting dirty, getting into trouble and learning about the world.

There is far more in the real world to learn about than on any screen.

Put the phone down, go outside, touch grass or in the case of Rio Rancho, touch dirt. More importantly, spend time with your kids.

That's one thing I always remember about my childhood: my parents and I having fun together. Maybe we all need to get back to that.