Betrayal!

I used to tell people, "Their are three people who I trust, above all others, when it comes to advice: my Mom, my Dad and Dr. Phil."

I used to be a huge fan of Dr Phil's, but I haven't really been watching his show lately. Not because I've grown to dislike him. I just get caught up in watching other shows, and it's been so long since I've tuned in I don't even think about watching it anymore.

Well the other day I was flipping through channels, trying to find something to watch, and I came across the "Dr. Phil Show". I decided to see what the good old doctor had to say. Sadly, the more I watched the more disappointed I became. He had on a mom who's discipline tactics, he claimed, were abusive and uncalled for. The mom's techniques weren't one's I myself would use, but I didn't find them too terribly horrifying. The video was hard to watch, but watching other people discipline their kids is always hard because you're not in the situation. You haven't had to deal with the child's behavior over and over again until you get to the point that you're so frustrated you start pulling out all the stops.

My main point of disappointment came from the fact that no one was concerned about the mom. No one was asking, "What led to this? How did you get to this point? Are you happy with what you are doing or do you feel you need to change so you, and your child, can be happier?"

Instead they just tore her down. All I could think was, "This poor mom had the guts to expose herself to the world and ask for help, and all they can do is tell her how horrible she is. I'm sorry but I think we should be reaffirming that she is a good mom. And focus on the fact that if this behavior doesn't make her feel like she is being successful as a mom then, yes, lets try to fix it."

The reason why this happens? I'm going to be bold and say that the media is constantly taking power away from the parents, and giving it to the kids. We can hardly think of disciplining techniques anymore that won't have social services knocking at our door. Are there extremes? Yes! Do people get out of control? Yes! But I still think parents are loosing the right to raise good, obedient children.

I noticed it first in commercials. Commercials usually have scenarios where a kid is supposed to be cute and funny, but instead I think, "If that were my kid I'd be putting him in time out until he could learn to appreciate what he has."

My latest commercial rival is Toyota. Their latest ads drive me crazy and make me never want to purchase a Toyota.

OK so maybe I'm a black helicopter, conspiracy theorists, you name it. If you think I'm crazy you don't have to listen. But have you noticed what the media does with weight as well.

For example: "Bridget Jones' Diary".

I heard that Renee Zellweger was a size 13 when she filmed "Bridget Jones. . .", but the character's weight in the movie varies from 140 lbs to 160 lbs

When I'm 140 lbs I'm a size 8. When I'm 160 lbs I'm a size ten. So how is it that Ms. Zellweger, who is probably a good few inches taller than me, is a size 13 when she supposedly weighs between 140 lbs to 160 lbs?

I've seen other examples, but this is running long. I just pick up on things here and there, in the media, that really drive me bonkers so I had to get it out.