Remember when "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out," was funny? How about little Michelle on "Full House" saying, "you got it dude"? At the end of every show there was a moral, some lesson to be learned. And it left us all with a feeling that somehow, somewhere in the world, things were good.

In stark contrast, we now think little Stewey on "Family Guy" plotting to kill his mother is hysterical. "Full House" ended its run in 1995. "The Cosby Show" was only a few years earlier, and the last "real family values" show on a national network was "According to Jim". Now, understand that I know "real family values" is a very subjective concept. Your idea and my idea may be two very different things.

When I say "real family values shows", I'm speaking of a show that teaches something without preaching, yet is able to cater to a child's intelligence and not pander. These are shows the entire family can watch with no fear of "the look". Every parent out there knows what I'm talking about when it comes to "the look". "Is this really appropriate" you ask each other in a wordless way. "Should we change the channel or cover their eyes"?

What I consider a "real family values show" is a show that in 22 minutes, can put a child or family in a situation where they are forced to resolve it, and more importantly, learn from it, and by the end of the show, they are better for having gone through it. When you look at the history of television, you'll notice that it's gradually become about pushing boundaries.

"According to Jim" is still on the air, but it's more than likely on its last leg. In contrast, look at a show such as "Family Guy", who has solid ratings week in and week out, and is probably the most offensive show on television aside from "South Park".

Do I believe either of these shows should be watched by kids? Absolutely not. Do I believe kids watch them? I know for a fact they do. And what that comes down to is parents trying to be friends rather than parents. "The Simpsons" has been on for more than 15 years. And do you truly believe parents are making up the brunt of that viewing audience? I highly doubt it.

Now I'm not one of those Republicans who believe everything that comes out of Hollywood is evil. I'm all for a little senseless violence and tasteless humor. However, it wasn't something I was allowed to watch as a kid. So what happened?

Most likely, what happened is the same thing that's been happening for more than 40 years. They need to push boundaries. Things get old, ratings slip, and they need to reinvent the wheel so to speak. Look back at the family values of the 50's and 60's. I use television as an example, because to me, it's a gauge of what is going on at any given time in the world. Look at "I Love Lucy" and "The Dick Van Dyke" show. In both of these shows, they have married couples, but in the bedroom, it's two double beds.

They were afraid of sending the wrong message and opening up a sensitive subject that might force parents to have an uncomfortable discussion. Now flash forward to the 70's, and you have shows such as "Sanford and Son", "All In the Family", and "The Jeffersons". These really were groundbreaking achievements in televison. They pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable, and brought new understanding to what was then some pretty tough subject matter. These were astounding achievements because of what they were trying to accomplish, not achievements because they were trying to shock anyone.

In the 80's, things changed a little more. Probably due in a big way to Nancy Reagan's push for more family values, we had "Diff'rent Strokes", "Facts of Life", and then eventually, "Cosby". The 80's sitcoms were probably the most family friendly television we've had in the history of television. These shows created the 22 minute moral format. In every show, at least one characters was faced with some ethical quandary, and ultimately overcame it by the end of the show. Each of these series' focused on subject matter that, like the 70's wasn't always easy subject matter. From Arnold's personal experience with a child molester to Blair being pressured to have sex.

The trend continued through most of the 90's, but as ratings waned, shows became became more risque. FOX in particular, became (and still is) the network known for bad taste. With fare such as "Married with Children", we learned what the term dysfunctional truly means. We also had Roseanne, which, in the beginning, was a family show. As time went on, even they began to see how far they could push it. No longer did they teach, so much as shock.

And that's exactly what shows have been about since the end of the 90's. "South Park" is one of those very shows that is a parody of itself. It boasts that it has no family values whatsoever, which is true, yet in numerous episodes, it actually comes across as trying to teach the value of independent thinking, and on occasion, actually succeeds. I'm sure Trey Parker and Matt Stone would hate to hear that.

So what do we do now? If you're smart, you'll look at something other than the big 4 (FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS) and take full advantage of the two best family networks around.

Nickelodeon has done a fine job of promoting family values since its inception. During the day, they cater to the toddlers at home and teach them more than just values. With shows such as "Dora", "Blue's Clues", and "Go, Deigo, Go", you can't go wrong.

Disney, always having been known for its straightforward approach to family programming, focuses more on entertainment than learning. Shows such as "Lilo and Stitch", "Handy Manny", or "The Mickey Mouse" club are perfect for parents who want to get some housework done and not have to worry about what their kids are watching.

At night, Both channels offer a nice variety of family-friendly shows the entire family can watch. Granted, the comedy is a little dumbed down, and some of it reminds one of the old "Dick Van Dyke" routines, which are fairly well traveled comedy routines, but anything that brings a family together for a good laugh is at the top of my personal recommendation. With shows such as "Raven", "Hannah Montana", or "Drake and Josh", you can't go wrong.

Another recommendation is a simple one. Keep an eye on what your kids are watching. You're the parent. It's up to you to monitor what the kids watch. Here's another idea, the V-Chip. Almost every television manufactured after 1999 has this device. If you want to put a television in your child's bedroom, at least take full advantage of this wonderful way to control what your child watches.

Let's face it, you can't keep a kid a kid forever. They have to grow up. But do they have to do based on someone else's values? In this writer's opinion, children are growing up way too fast these days. Kids aren't being...well, kids. Cosby may be long gone, but family values shouldn't be.

In this day and age of the internet, XBox 360, and the ease of everything being at our fingertips, it's just easier to give in. However, I still remember the days when I was told that, just because I want it, doesn't mean I'll get it. So how is it that we've come to something such as "My Sweet 16"?

Again, I am using a television show as more or less a compass for what our society has come to. Too often these days parents are trying to be friends, and not being parents. Too often children learn that if they just complain hard enough or pitch a fit loud enough, they get what they want.

It used to get my butt torn up. Maybe that's also part of the problem. I'll never forget working in a grocery store and watching as a parent got down and squatted as her child threw a fit in the middle of the aisle, crying and screaming because she wouldn't buy him something. So what did she do? "Come here, Bobby. Come over here. Stop now, stop that. Come here". This went on for no less than five minutes! I wanted to go over and yank her up and tell her to just be a parent!

Look, I know parenting is tough. Believe me, it's the toughest job you'll ever love to coin an old phrase. But in the end, it's just that. It's a job. It has a boss and someone who has to do what the boss says. And guess who that boss is?

These days, sometimes it seems like it's the kid. And it's getting tougher to do what our parents did. These days, in most cases, both parents are working full time jobs. Let's face it, you both come home in the afternoon, try to get the kids to get their homework done, race to get dinner ready, have a little time to sit and relax, and then it's time to start it all over again. It's easier to simply put a computer in the kid's room, along with a television, a game console, MP3 player, and the list goes on and on and on...

But be realistic. How much do you really know about what your kids are doing when you're not around? Back in 1999 when the Columbine incident happened, people were astounded and baffled that the parents claimed they didn't know what the kids were up to. Granted, it's an extreme example. But how much do you really know about what your kids are up to at night? And how can you avoid it?

For starters, I can use my own experience as an example. My parents were never rich when I was growing up. My mom was a stay-at-home mom until I was almost 12. We didn't have a lot of money. So when I wanted something, I cut grass during the summer and that's how I got it. It taught me the value of a dollar and how much more I'd cherish it if I was the one that bought it.

Second, I didn't have a television in my room until I bought one with the money I earned over a summer of cutting grass. And even then, I wasn't allowed to sit in my room and watch it. I watched it at night, but during the day, I was out riding my bike, throwing a baseball, playing with friends.

So what would really happen if you denied your precious offspring the requests that they come to you with on an almost daily basis?

A study on this very subject was conducted and it was found that around 70% of third graders had a television in their bedrooms. However, kids with a television on their bedrooms score lower on average on their tests, and are more likely to have sleep disorders. Also, having a television in the bedroom is associated with kids being overweight.

It's really no surprise that kids are growing up expecting more from their parents, and parents are in turn working harder to give the kids what they want. After all, how many times have you heard, "I just want to give them what I didn't have growing up". But that doesn't mean you have to give them the world. And it doesn't mean there has to be no restrictions on the limits of when they get to use what you give them.

Think about enforcing a time line. Tell them they can get X number of minutes on the computer if when they get their homework done. Tell them they can only watch television for a certain number of hours each day. And ALWAYS factor in some sort of time outdoors. When was the last time you drove through a neighborhood and saw kids outside at play? That's because they are all in their rooms watching television or looking up profiles on Myspace.

My girlfriend's daughter recently asked her if she could have a Myspace profile. She's 10! But, this is what is cool now. It's truly the "everyone else is doing it" mentality. When you see someone on television having a sweet 16 party featuring Beyonce as the guest singer, then of course, you're going to want that. The key is want all you want. Do you know how many yards I would have had to cut to get Beyonce to perform at my party?

Remember the most important word in family values is family. Spend time together. Even if it is just to watch television. Once in a while turn it off and have a game night, reconnect, and have some fun. Take some pride in the fact that your daughter is calling you a dork or your son is embarrassed because you kissed him in front of his friends. This is what being a parent is all about! He'll thank you later for doing it. She will remember the great advice mom, not a friend, gave to her when she needed it.

And remember, there is a lot to say for the family that eats together. The family table truly should be for families to get together and bond. Too often we are in our own separate places doing our own separate things. But take some time to enjoy each other's company.

And remember, just because you say no, it doesn't mean you don't love them. It means you care enough to actually say no. Sometimes it's the best way to show you love them.