The Jetsons

Our TV just died. And, though we might have been better served by freeing up that corner of the living room for something else... we went ahead and replaced it. With a flat screen. Mainly because it takes up less space, and I have this dream of hanging it in a shallow little cabinet high on the wall with doors I can shut.

But, oh-my-oh-my, we're almost embarassingly cutting edge now! Imay have to turn in my simplicity card. Seriously, my husband and I have always been more tuned in to raising chickens and children than merging onto the information super highway. We're not technology geeks. But, having teenagers has inclination growing all over us anymore. They have a burning interest in all the gadgets, our big kids. And they have an amazing amount of know-how.

Where do they learn it?? I mean, as homeschoolers, I should know where they pick up pretty much any new information, right? Well, um, no, I'm afraid I don't. They've turned the tables and are teaching me now. I had to have one of mine explain to me what an ipod is. And, exactly what is this "wee" I've been hearing about? (Ooops. Just let on how cutting edge I'm not!)

Our son, Jon (17), apparently one night while he was sleeping, sprouted the information between his ears that enabled him to wire our house for sound and reconnect all our audio/visual equipment to actually work off of one remote ~ when he was about twelve.

Our fourteen-year -old magically and instantaneously learned how to burn cds and record slideshows to music. My seven and nine-year-olds can manipulate the computer better than I can. And I didn't teach them. My husband hasn't sat down to instruct, either. I think it's just that the kids are interested, so they play around until they teach themselves (hopefully without destroying the equipment!). They aren't afraid of it; they take technology for granted.

Anyway, all this new-fangled TV thing got me to thinking about how truly space age we are becoming. Sure, we moms out here still wear aprons and bake cupcakes, but we have cell phones tucked into our apron pockets and check our e-mail while the cupcakes bake. It may not seem like it, but we are the Jetsons! The only thing we're missing is the flying cars!

Rosie beats Rumba anyday! )*

How'd these guys get in here?

Technology's not an inherently bad thing. I admit I take it for granted. I like my commercial-free radio in my car. I enjoy communicating on the internet. I'd be lost without my cell phone. I'm enjoying my flat screen TV and my DVR that allows me to record only what I want our family to watch and skip through the commercials. Like so many things, it can all be utilized for the good or corrupted toward the bad.

We've learned many safeguards and have been able, so far, to use the TV, computer, and cell phones and avoid too many evil influences. But, we've also learned you can never relax your vigilance. Actually, though, to be perfectly honest, the most difficult temptation for us with any of these has been moderation. It's a challenge, but we've been able to establish rules and expectations that have kept us from becoming immersed. Most of the time.

Except for like right now... When I should be folding the clothes on my bed so I'll have a place to sleep tonight. Instead of playing on the computer. Hunting down pictures of the Jetsons.

Yeah, ok. I'm off to fold clothes now. Night, all.