Shannon is bothered

First of all...I love Sesame Street. And I love that my 2 younger kids call it Stefanie Street-a testament to their adoration of their beloved auntie.

I'm sure I liked Sesame Street as a child,  but I specifically remember being smitten with it while nannying for 2 little boys in California. I was taken with a clever spoof on Madonna's Material Girls. That's when I realized that the writing for Sesame Street was geared towards more than just 2-year-old toddlers whose parents- or nannies- put them in front of the TV in hopes they learn their colors. It's also for the entertainment of laundry-folding mothers who may or may not need a quick confidence boost that they are being good mothers since Sesame Street is clearly quality televised programming.

After my short time as a nanny, I missed a few episodes of Sesame Street-maybe 8 or 9 years worth. And for one reason or another, Colby was deprived of Sesame Street as a toddler-- maybe because I never knew what time it was on, or because the newer, hipper shows like Little Einsteins and Backyardigans appealed to me- I mean him- more. Maybe that's why Colby didn't learn his colors until he was almost four...

Anyway, I have recently re-discovered Sesame Street, mainly because we now have a DVR which allows me to tape it for my kids' viewing pleasure, any time they wish. And after all this time, I still think the writing and content is quite clever. It's hilarious to see random celebrities like LL Cool-J do the "word of the day" without trying to laugh. And, Murray Has a Little Lamb?- genius and so funny. Seriously, tell me you've ever resisted bustin' a move to that catchy little jingle. But... I have a few bones to pick. Specifically with Elmo and Baby Bear. 

It's always bugged me that Elmo speaks in third person. "Elmo has an idea..." I can just imagine how confusing this is for kids. 'Who is he talking about? I thought that was Elmo.'  Or it can go the other way. The way where Elmo is modeling the incorrect grammar, just at the age where kids are learning  pronouns. I don't like this. I don't like it as a Speech Therapist now and I didn't like it before I was a Speech Therapist. And, why is it that most toddlers latch on to Elmo before any other Sesame Street character? Why not Big Bird or Telly who both have excellent grammar?

And don't get me started on Baby Bear. Well, now that we're talking about it. He, or she, (do we really know it's gender?) doesn't correctly produce his /r/'s. Have you noticed this? Of course you have, it's obvious.  Or is it. One moment he says a /w/ for /r/ and then magically the next moment his /r/ is perfect. This drives me crazy!! If you're going to mispronounce your /r/'s, at least do it every time! And even though he's a "baby" and babies don't usually have their /r/'s yet, he can still talk in a lame baby voice but provide a good model of speech for our children. I don't know about you, but I'm totally relying on Sesame Street for my kids' speech development.

Oh, that feels good to get off my chest. And with those complaints, I still like Sesame Street. So much in fact, that Ty is watching it right now.  I mean, it's either Sesame Street or actually playing with my child while modeling good /r/'s and pronouns- but why would I do that?