How to Read the Room

My wife is an elementary school teacher.  We pride ourselves on limiting screen time and not using television as a babysitter.  Television is a privilege reserved for the weekends but even Justin, at five, knew that his almost three-year-old little brother was about to come unglued.  Who knows what was wrong, it was probably because it was a day that ended in “y”.  I’m not even sure how Justin knew what was coming but there was no beating around the bush.  Justin had obviously been through this before so he graciously gave his permission to break the rules. 

“Mom, go ahead and turn on SpongeBob so the kid won't freak out.”

- 20 March 2006