Oompa-Loompa Wisdom

Noah and I recently finished reading Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl.  This one was probably Noah's biggest challenge yet, with trying to keep the characters straight ("Mommy, which one was Veruca Salt? Was she the one who just had to scream and her dad got her whatever she wanted?"), but the two of us really enjoyed it all the same.

I found it to be a surprisingly accurate commentary on today's children, though the book was published in 1964.  Each child in the book is a caricature of what can happen as a result of bad parenting.  So not only did it entertain, but it provided a gentle rebuke for my parenting techniques.  Even better.

Here's what I mean:

"The most important thing we've learned,
So far as children are concerned,
Is never, Never, NEVER let
Them near your television set--
Or better still, just don't install
The idiotic thing at all.

In almost every house we've been,
We've watched them gaping at the screen....
They sit and stare and stare and sit
Until they're hypnotized by it,
Until they're absolutely drunk
With all that shocking, ghastly junk.

Oh yes, we know it keeps them still,
They don't climb out the window sill,
They never fight or kick or punch,
They leave you free to cook the lunch
And wash the dishes in the sink--
But did you ever stop to think,
To wonder just exactly what
This does to your beloved tot?....

His brain becomes as soft as cheese!
His powers of thinking rust and freeze!
He cannot think--he only sees!...."

Those Oompa-Loompas have a point!  Since reading this book, our TV has been on less. :)