Shut Down What?

When a government shuts down, it can be unsettling, scary even, especially to a kid or teenager.  It looms like darkness from a wrong turn onto an unfamiliar street, and there is little understanding of what can be done or where we go from here.  So, you can handle it several ways.  We chose this way.

While sitting on the couch as a family, we were flipping channels back and forth between The Voice and the news.  Our aspiring learner and uber inquisitive teen was very interested in what was going on in the country and had many MANY questions about the state of our government. 

Anytime there is an opportunity for a nice family discussion as opposed to button pushing on i-devices, we like to choose the talking.  We feel all engaged and stuff.  And we can rest our index fingers. 

Husband and I were doing our best to explain, along with listening to the news anchors who were providing facts about other shut downs in our nation's history. 

In the lower right-hand corner of the news screen, a countdown to the shutdown ticked ominously. 

Other than New Year's or a space launch, countdowns on tv were seldom seen, and this peaked her interest even more!  So while she was busy reading something in front of her, Husband and I exchanged a few private sinister looks, and we nonverbally agreed to discreetly shut down the tv just as the countdown clock reached zero. 

3-2-1 Darkness.  After the tv went black, she immediately rose out of her chair, completely stunned, asking what had happened.  We informed her that the shut down was apparently so powerful that it had reached our local cable company and meant that there was no more tv viewing until further notice. 

With a look of absolute horror and a hint of bewildered amusement on her face, she resorted to the fact that she wouldn't be watching any Drake and Josh, Abbey Lee, or X-Factor even.  It was all "down the tubes."  Pardon the pun.  We really had her going. 

(I would never have done this before dvr, let me tell you) 

She was just about writhing on the floor in painful protest when we finally told her it was only a joke and  turned the tv back on to finish watching The Voice together. 

But it was so much fun while it lasted. 

I am getting coal in my stocking this year, I'm sure of it.