For the past 5 Summers that Jeff and I have been together, we have watched the, erm, "not-so-Godly" show on CBS, Big Brother. While the show has its definite moments of worldly and not at all kid friendly attributes, it is quite entertaining if you can keep focused that the some (most) of the situations in the show are what NOT to do ;) Despite knowing this show isn't the best when compared to the 700 Club, we really do look forward to watching it season after season. This is mostly because of the fact that it is guaranteed time together, 3 times a week, where we can sit down after Hudson is asleep and veg out on our little vice of a television show. Jeff particularly loves Sunday nights of Big Brother because I traditionally make Monkey Tails, or dark chocolate dipped bananas, frozen---DELISH.
If you have never seen Big Brother, it is a reality show where 16 house guests enter a home closed off to the real world for 100+ day with no outside contact, no family communication, no nothing. Just the people in the house, and the activities provided by the producers. They are fed well and get to stay in a great house, have a small pool, and fitness area, but that is it. Cameras (big brother) watch and see everything they do...EVERYTHING. Except go to the bathroom. YIKES. Each week, individuals are nominated by the Head of Household to go up on the block and basically fight via competitions, both mental and physical to stay in the house another week, with the goal to be the last house guest in the house to win $500,000.
Now, don't get me wrong...I love this show. It is high energy, the drama is entertaining, and there's always a great test to keep you coming back for more. Plus, it airs three times during the week, so you don't have to wait an entire week to find out more. However, this summer, I have really paid a little more attention to what is really going on here. Each house guest chosen comes from a varying background, age range, culture, orientation, etc. The show, mostly for entertainment purposes, selects house guests that are on complete opposite sides of the spectrum as far as lifestyle, personality, etc. This specific season, there are three individuals that are parents. One woman is a recently divorced mother of three young boys. One is a young father of a two year old little girl. And the other is a young father of a nine month old baby girl.
Now, like I said, I love this show, but as a parent this season, I am just flabbergasted at these house guests and their ability to go through with something like this. I am not at all judging, and each of them have said multiple times that their ultimate reason for being there is to better the lives of their children, however, remember what I said about being cut off from the outside? It's serious. Not even a photo of their children is allowed unless they happen to win Head of Household, and even then, they only get three or four photos of family and a letter. This absolutely breaks my heart. It breaks my heart that these individuals are leaving behind their families for the slight chance at winning money, not even an immense amount of money, not that quantity matters in this situation. It breaks my heart that these parents felt that by missing several months of their children's lives, leaving behind their spouses, and basically disappearing from existence in the eyes of the really young ones, that it would all be 'worth it'. It breaks my heart that a mother who is alone with her baby, three little boys who are missing their mother, and a small little girl are all at home watching their parents/spouse lie, cheat, and deceive others, all at the mere possibility of winning $500,000.00 (which likely ends up being about $250k after taxes and fess). When I started thinking about it, all I could think was that I really can't imagine doing this. I am in no way saying that these people are "bad" or "horrible parents" or anything to that effect. I am just saying that I am so sure that my place is with my family, and with my husband, playing outside, wrestling and tickling on the floor, and eating monkey tails on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday nights. This is such a hypocritcal post, because like I said, I love the show, but I just realized that these people we watch each week are real. Real people, with real lives, and real families, who made real choices to come on this show and participate while leaving behind the most important people in their lives. It's so heartbreaking. :( It may sound funny, but I am planning to pray over the hearts of the house guests for the rest of the season and to help heal their hearts, that their children and their spouses would be strong until their return, and that upon their return, they realized what is most important in life next to God--Family.
