What to Drink in Mansoul

Ourselves, Charlotte Mason Volume 4 ( Part I:The House Of The Body); Chapter 2- The Esquires Of The Body: Thirst

There’s never a shortage of ever-changing parenting advice, is there?

Once upon a time, it was, ‘Don’t sit too close to the TV, you’ll ruin your eyes.’ Then it became, ‘No more than three hours of screen time a day for toddlers.’ These days, we’ve upgraded to a new fear: ‘AI might turn our kids' brains to mush.’ (Full disclosure: I say that last one. I also say that a day without reading turns the brain to porridge. Don’t judge.)

I kid… but not really.

One of the scariest parts of parenting is the hindsight knowledge that we allowed something into our children’s lives that could harm them.

So we reach for rules. No twaddle—or just a little. No comic books—except maybe Shakespeare, because that’s educational. Only classic literature. Absolutely no AI. Or maybe a tiny bit, with supervision. Or only after age 13. Or…

Following universal rules helps us feel we’re protecting our children. However, what if we need more than rules? What if what we really need is a healthy response?

Some kids will use AI the way we once used Google. Others will take every answer it gives as gospel truth. Some kids can watch a video, walk away, and get back to work or play. Others will watch video after video, reel after reel. Some kids won’t read a good book because the font is too small. Others will happily read Anne of Green Gables, under the covers, with a barely working torch.

The problem is, we don’t always know which child we’re raising until we start paying attention.

Just like we can’t tell from the first sip of fizzy drink who will become addicted and who will just shrug and ask for water, we can’t predict which child will use technology as a tool and which one will lean on it like a crutch.

But we can watch. And respond.

Watch closely, respond wisely, and cultivate good taste diligently.

Best Regards,

Olufunmike