E-mail, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, text messages ... the list just keeps growing.
In one column, the writer was bemoaning the fact that her kids were shunning her on Facebook. Duh.
Really, I do like my kids and their friends, but do I want to spend my free time checking out their Facebook Walls? Do any of them really want me checking out their Facebook Walls?
Do they want me to Twitter the fact that their dirty clothes are still lying in the middle of the floor or send them an e-mail reminder to get the dishes washed?
I remember back in the good old days when the only way we had to talk to our friends was by telephone - not cordless, either (and we had to actually talk to each other). I remember stretching that cord pretty far to have private conversations with my friends. Today's "private" conversations between teens can potentially be seen by millions of others - I'm sure if there was something inappropriate on either girl's (or their friends') MySpaces or Facebooks, I would hear about it.
And their e-mail - well, it's about as much my business as the notes my friends and I used to pass back and forth in school.
I've had discussions with both of my teenagers about cyberbullying - Megan helped write an article on it - and I'm not really too concerned. They know and follow all the rules - we keep the computer in a high traffic area of the house, they only communicate with people they know, etc. etc.
Anyway, I've come to the conclusion that I'm going to be "the cool mom" - and stay off of their Walls.
Oh, I may decide to get a Wall of my own - I already have a MySpace account I never use - I may even decide to Twitter (hey, most of the time I can't find the cordless phone and I may need to have a conversation with my own friends someday), but if I do I won't be adding my kids as my cyberfriends.
After all, if I want to tell them to put their laundry away I can do it the old-fashioned way, while eavesdropping on their phone conversations and reading the computer screen over their shoulders - cause that's what cool moms do.
Oh pleez do join facebook! Deb and Gwen are complete duds. DEE-YOU-DEES!
ReplyDeleteAnother fun fact about peeps -- at least one heathen family in Williams County has a peep war every Easter. The winner since the peep wars began? The family dog!
I don't know about joining facebook - there's a lot of weirdos lurking about on there! Peep wars !?! what sacrilege! Lucky dog - unless they're chocolate peeps (very similar to Deb's chocolate licorice - blech!)
ReplyDeleteOnline social networking can be fun for children and teens but with it comes the need for responsible behaviour. If you are going to permit your child to have an online presence please make sure they are educated against cyber bullying, cyber predators and limit the time they are permitted to use the computer. Children today need to get out more and be involved in some face to face interactions as well as physical activities. Responsible behaviour and social ability cannot be learn behind the keyboard of a computer so please be wise in your online permittance for your children.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment Mr. Franz. You have made some excellent points and I agree it is important for kids to spend more time involved in activities away from the computer and off the couch!
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