The 80’s Back to Basics

Yesterday on October 10, my lovely husband had a surprise for me.  As I sat in the bed, posting thank yous’ to the many birthday wishes on my android, all of a sudden the opening song of Jem blasted out of the TV.  My head snapped up so fast and I was dumbstruck!  I couldn’t believe it.  I had been wishing Hub would put Jem on since Transformers and GI Joe had been revamped – I thought it only fair to put the full lineup on and here it was – on The Hub

I admit it.  Jem was my favorite cartoon next to Thundercats back when I was 8.  I LOVED JEM.  She was truly outrageous.  Even though they may have stolen a page from Disney since Jerricas’ (Jems’ real name) mom died in a plane crash, she was to me an awesome roll model for girls.  So much unlike the TV shows today where kids run amuck with no parental supervision, talk back to their parents, disregard the parent/child relationship and the parents who are present act like kids.   Also don’t let me started on the pseudo cursing on these shows.

You know what I am talking about – iCarly.  That’s the “Chiz”, really?  Or the one liner where another word is filled in for the word, “ass”.  Granted the shows are funny sometimes but I shake my head at the disrespect and subliminal messages on the show.  Ok, off my soapbox now.

Back to Jem.

Jem was an awesome show about typical girlfriend rock group trying to do their thing while their rivals, The Misfits continuously interfered.  The funny thing about The Misfits though, they never really wanted to see Jem and the Holograms get hurt.  They always came through to protect Jem and the Holograms and somehow help to save the day. 
It was a cartoon that taught me a lot about honesty and friendship.  Two things that don’t seem too important these days.  I remember how “doing the right thing makes you a superstar” moments and the MUSIC VIDEOS.

Classic 80’s theme song!!

A lot of 80’s cartoons had do the right thing messages or, stay in school messages.  What happened?  Sex and vulgarity.  It is no longer enough to draw kids in with doing the right thing, following their dreams or being good friends – that doesn’t sell.  Things like Family Guy, the Simpsons have taken over.  The industry is so focused on the entertainment part of television that they have taken edutainment out of it.  So what can we do as parents who are raising little girls and boys? 

Credit

Get back to basics.  My mom and grandmother had rules for everything, eating my food, cleaning, TV watching.  Everything. And yes, I got my butt spanked – not often but it happened.  I say not often because those spankings worked.  I didn’t have a choice on whether or not I wanted to eat what was fixed.  I had to eat it or not eat at all.  I didn’t get up on Saturdays and start playing video games.  I got up, cleaned up, took a shower and ate breakfast.  This gave me all day to do what I wanted. 
We are living in an age where kids are encouraged to grow up quicker, not have ANY responsibilities and to do what they “feel” is right.  I am guilty of not getting back to basics.  But not any longer.  Not my daughter.  I remind her that it’s ok she still plays with her dolls, doing the right thing is important as well as trusting in God.  Yes, trusting in God. 

So do I think it’s working?  Check it out

I introduced Jem to my daughter yesterday.  SHE LOVED IT.  She even set a reminder to record a new one.  I’m not saying that this cartoon should be the model for good behavior in kids but it is a good start to get back to basics.  Where things were simple because there was discipline.  So thank you 80’s for showing me the way back to basics.  Now, someone be a doll and buy me the DVD set for my birthday!!

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