A Minute for Parents

Summary

Will the Mental Images Created in a Book Affect our Kids?

Article

By JoAnn Hibbert Hamilton

As a mother purchased a book, she thought to herself, “All the teens are reading this series of books. It’s sold in Deseret Book Store and has an LDS author. It must be okay.” Which book did she pick up? Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.

I want to raise the question, “Is this series of books okay for youth?” I don’t want to answer the question. I just want to give information to parents. Obviously everyone has to decide for himself. My concern is that we as parents and grandparents have information. Frankly, I would recommend that parents read the books if their children have already read them and then talk to their youth about key issues.

Let’s ask ourselves first, “Will the mental images created in a book affect our kids?” The answer is, “Yes,” because whether we like it or not everything we read and see does affect us in some way. That’s why advertisers spend millions of dollars in advertising.

A friend had dropped off Twilight because she had concerns. As I read it I could hardly put the first book down and I found no problem until near the last part of the book. Let me share what you might consider:

I noticed the explicit and detailed step by step physical relationship with Edward, namely, first the touch of her hair, then her face, etc. as the relationship moved closer. The fact that Edward was staying overnight with Bella needed to be hidden from Bella’s father or mother and the secrecy worked for her. Although there was no sex involved at this point it seemed to be okay for him to be in her bedroom night after night. And if we are concerned about ideas being implanted in the minds of our youth, this is a concern, as well as the fact that later she asks to have sex with him before they are married.

Edward, although appearing as 17 was actually 80 years old with two medical degrees, and one mother told me she wondered if because of his appeal and winning ways if young teens would be encouraged to develop relationships with older men, perhaps those on the Internet who would actually be predators. This seemed far-fetched to me at first until I really thought about it.

I asked myself if, as a result of these books, girls would be disappointed when their boy friends didn’t follow the pattern of Edward? They might entice them to do so. Would young men follow his pattern? Will the honeymoon information encourage pre-marital sex? Will it cause expectations that will become a problem in marriages? Are our kids getting sort of a sex education from these books?

“Oh, but this is just fiction!” Yes, but what we choose to put in our minds does influence our thinking and our actions. I worry that as a nation as our acceptance of low moral standards is becoming common, that we will no longer see the need to protect our children.

One mother, who had read these books, said she would never allow her teenagers to read them. Another mother said she would allow it but wanted to have open discussions about the books after she read them. Evidently on the web we find that even the author considered labeling the last of her series as not appropriate for teens under 15.

Most parents want their children to be compassionate, understanding of others, etc. If these qualities are what we want them to embrace, we need to find sources of literature, movies, etc. that will emphasize these qualities. If not, this world in various forms will fill their heads with early sexuality