Moms Talk: Not In My House

Each week the Mentor Patch Moms Council answers a question posed to them by readers or another member of council.

Those who know my musical tastes as a child know that I had a predilection towards (let's say) aggressive music. And my mother, understandably, was resistant toward some of these tastes.

For example, in 1994, I think I single-handedly financed Method Man's mortgage with all the times I had to rebuy Tical after my tape was confiscated.

So my question to you is -- without putting your kids on the spot -- what pieces of entertainment have you put a moratorium on in your house? Is there a specific TV show that is (or was) not permitted? A movie? Perhaps a video game?

Melanie Majikas:

I don't censor music, though I do ask my girls to buy clean versions of songs when they can.

As for other media, typically we just stick to whatever the rating is for the movie or TV show.

My older daughter (a freshman in high school this year) is starting to push for more adult shows and movies.

Both my girls like reality shows more than I really approve of, but it's been a good way for me to talk about why those shows are nothing like "reality" for most people.

Overall, at my girls' ages (11 and 14,) I'm less concerned about the content of what they are watching (within reason) than with limiting their overall media exposure in terms of the number of hours they spend per day on watching TV/movies. We have set periods of time in our house when the TV and computer are off.

Mary Jo Stack:

I would not allow my son to play Grand Theft Auto and similar games when he was younger.

I am confident in the upbringing that my children had not to censor their music. They are smart, intelligent individuals.

There is a time, or age, to censor and then there is a time to let go.