Below Average

After seeing a disturbing report today about how much media and electronics (TV, movies, video games, computer, cell phone, music, radio, newspapers, magazines, etc.) the average child in America is exposed to every day (anywhere from 8-12 hours!!!), I feel a need to examine our own time. Here's how the past 36 hours or so went over here...

6:30 - 7:45 Get children ready for school, breakfast, finish homework, coats and boots on, etc. (no media)
7:45 - 3:00 Dana at work (computer - approx. 2-3 hours - mostly just for work); kids at school (probably have at least some computer time there); Nedra has quiet time, does a few loads of laundry, goes to Bible Study, lunch with a friend, and runs errands while out (radio while driving around - approx. 30 minutes)
3:00 - 5:45 Girls have friends over and bake cookies, play dress-up, and "talked", Ethan plays Wii (45 min.) then reads a book (60 min.), Nedra cleans up, checks e-mail and news on internet (20 minutes), and prepares supper; Dana exercises at the Y (I think he swam so he couldn't listen to the iPod like he usually would)
5:45 - 7:45 Dana and kids to AWANA at church (book CD in the van on the way there - 10 min.), Nedra blogs (30 min.) and exercises at the Y
7:45 - 10:30 Kids get ready for bed, Dana meets for Men's Bible Study and prayer, Nedra empties dishwasher, does more laundry, reads (60 min.) and does an electronic Sudoku game (30 min.)
10:30 - 6:30 Sleeping
5:45 Dana leaves to donate plasma (probably listens to iPod, reads a book, or messes around on his laptop (90 minutes)
6:30 - 3:00 Much the same as the yesterday; Nedra on computer in afternoon (45 min.)
3:00 - 4:15 Homework, snack, practice AWANA verses, read books, blog (20 min.), leave for swim team and exercise at the Y

We're not any super-family over here. We're just trying to keep ourselves somewhat organized and healthy (and hopefully God-honoring in the process), but basically just keeping our heads above water... I know we sometimes overdo it with movies, etc. It concerns me to think about the "average" child being SO inundated with media. While some of it may be entertaining or maybe educational or relational at best or hopefully at least harmless, I fear that much of this "media" is mind-numbing at best and probably corrupting the minds of our young people at worst.

Believe me, we watch our share of movies, play our share of video and computer games, spend some mindless time surfing the net, and entertaining or numbing ourselves with junk. We are not immune to the lie that the abundant life takes place during our leisure time. However, I'm happy to report that our family appears to be WAY "below average" in this area. God help us...