Teletubbies

I am by training an early childhood educator. That is what my bachelors is in. Then, to get real training, I had six children. God, in His infinite wisdom and with His awesome sense of humor, chose to lend to me some pretty high maintenance kidos. The years without sleep, and solace only from God, are countable only now that they are past. I didn't think back then that I would ever be done with diapers, nursing, or binkies. Or to clinging, anxiety ridden, fit throwing, screaming like they were on fire in the middle of the mall children.

When I was working with children before having any of my own, I hated all things that called themselves "children's television". I thought ill of all parents who would sit their children in front of a television instead of letting them explore their worlds. Hee hee. Okay, I did say before having my own. And my first two got the benefit of that kind of thinking, mostly. My oldest was 5 when I got him and already hooked on tv. He loved Power Rangers, so we let him watch. My next child loved to sing. So it only made sense to watch Barney, the purple singing dino. That and Little Mermaid so I could learn to braid her hair.

Then came 3 and then very close after, 4, 5, and 6. And Teletubbies. Now I know they are a little controversial (never did figure out what was up with Tinki Winki) but boy did they fit the ticket! They came on twice on our PBS station, first thing in the morning and during the witching hour (otherwise known as the hour I needed to make dinner). It saved both me and them (they are all still alive). There is something about that baby in the sun and the hypnotic background music and all those little kids with British accents that soothed my savage beasties. So much so, that when they got kinda weird on tv, I went and bought the movies on video so my kids could watch them whenever they (I) wanted (I needed them) to. Like when I needed a shower.

Now my kidos are all grown and perfect little angels. As I sit here typing I am listening to them fighting outside instead of inside so that they don't irritate their dear mother. Isn't that nice of them. But we still have occasion to pull out Teletubbies. Whenever we have a little person come visit who doesn't like to leave mommy but needs to and is crying and crying, we all look at each other and say "Teletubbies" and we hook up the old VCR and pop in the tape and within 5 minutes, that kid is quiet or giggling. I love those guys!