A Family TV Moment

My wife and I are happy that our 21-year-old son is home from college during the summer. He really completes our family, which of course includes our 13-year-old daughter. It’s been a tough year for us and being together is one of the things I look forward to the most. We used to all watch TV together, but our individual tastes in television shows vary tremendously. I’m a news guy, my wife is an HGTV fan, our daughter likes reality shows and our son watches BBC and The History Channel.

But recently, our son and daughter got hooked on a new ABC Family show. It’s called Pretty Little Liars, and it’s a provocative teen mystery drama. I’m really surprised that our son is into it because he’s the kind of guy who at age 8 read Dante’s Inferno for fun. On the up side, he and his sister are totally bonding over this program.

Last Tuesday evening, I arrived home from work to find our kids literally riveted to the TV. Normally, when I walk through the door, I’m greeted by shouts of welcome. That night, I might have been invisible for the lack of attention I was getting.

I saw what they were watching and I asked my son why he was so interested. Without taking his eyes off the screen, he mumbled, “The girls are hot.” I plopped myself on the couch next to my daughter and decided to ask her what was so great about this show.

My daughter looked at me and actually said, “Dad, stop talking.” It was a polite way of telling me to shut-up. I thought I would have some fun so I walked in front of the TV and threatened to change the channel. That’s when they pulled out the big guns and started to call their mother to tattle on me.

I backed off and capitalized on the moment: “Remember this,” I said, “the next time I’m watching football.”

Ron’s WEBSITE of the week

Self-made entrepreneur Daynin Dashefsky is also the president of Inventors World Network. She sent in her site, which teaches local people the process of invention: InventorsWorldNetwork.com

This goes beyond the Slap Chop. Send your favorite sites to me at: rnagasawa@midweek.com