Parenting is not easy. In this age of technology it has become even more difficult in some respects. As phones, mp3 players, and handheld gaming devices become more internet friendly, we parents must become more educated. We have a responsibility to know what the apps are, what the cheats are, and how to make sure our parental internet controls are secure. We need to do our research on the devices our children are asking for. Look up what the security settings are. Look up what apps are available. Check out the technology we are being asked to buy.
When we allow these devices into our homes and the hands of our children we need to make sure they know the rules. Write up a contract and you all sign it. Hold them accountable. Let them know that you will be monitoring their calls and texts. Let them know you will randomly ask for their devices and look through their histories. Let them know the consequences for breaking the rules. And follow through. Yes, it's easier to let our children have phones so we can keep in touch with them. Yes, it's easier to get them iPods so we don't have to listen to several radios at once. Yes, it's easier to just believe that they will follow the rules and we can trust them. But that isn't responsible parenting.
This topic is such a burden on my heart lately. I have busted my children misusing technology. I have had to make tough choices and learn things I didn't really want to so I could protect them better. I continue to learn new things all the time about how parents can be fooled and the rules broken. We live in a scary world where grown ups troll the internet for young people to lure in. We have to be the type of parents who are vigilant in protecting our children. This means being aware of their online activities. It means being aware of the apps they have on their devices. It means caring enough to KNOW what they are doing, and randomly checking up on them.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
This week....
has been the hardest. week. ever. Seriously. Don't ask me the details because if I want you to know, than I already told you. If you know, and it didn't come from my mouth, then that's a problem. It's not that I'm embarrassed, or trying to be super private (because we all know I tell everything I know), or because I don't like you...or you...or you over there. It's because some things just don't need to be shouted from the rooftops. Some things belong in the confines of a family and a few close, trust worthy, praying friends.
This week I have learned that sometimes you just don't know how much someone is hurting. You don't always know when a normal behavior isn't really all that normal. You don't always know that those smiles and laughter are covering more pain than you can imagine. And you never know when someone will take that step over the edge and hope that someone cares enough to catch them.
This week I learned that mom's don't have all the answers. Most times they don't even know all the questions. They can't kiss every boo-boo and make it go away, and they can't always scare away the boogie man. Sometimes they don't even know there is a boogie man to scare away, or a boo-boo to kiss. Mom's aren't superhuman (although we feel like it most of the time).
This week I learned that I am not as strong as I thought I was. That there are things that can still knock the wind out of my sails, and waves that feel like they are tipping the boat over. I learned that sometimes I can be taken completely by surprise, in a bad way. I learned that I am not fearless....I am actually pretty scared.
This week I learned that my God is big enough to cover it all. That no matter what I have learned this week He still holds me close to Him. He can heal the hurting. He can catch the falling. He has the answers. He can be my strength. He can calm the storm and keep the boat from tipping. He can take my fear.
My theme song.
This week I have learned that sometimes you just don't know how much someone is hurting. You don't always know when a normal behavior isn't really all that normal. You don't always know that those smiles and laughter are covering more pain than you can imagine. And you never know when someone will take that step over the edge and hope that someone cares enough to catch them.
This week I learned that mom's don't have all the answers. Most times they don't even know all the questions. They can't kiss every boo-boo and make it go away, and they can't always scare away the boogie man. Sometimes they don't even know there is a boogie man to scare away, or a boo-boo to kiss. Mom's aren't superhuman (although we feel like it most of the time).
This week I learned that I am not as strong as I thought I was. That there are things that can still knock the wind out of my sails, and waves that feel like they are tipping the boat over. I learned that sometimes I can be taken completely by surprise, in a bad way. I learned that I am not fearless....I am actually pretty scared.
This week I learned that my God is big enough to cover it all. That no matter what I have learned this week He still holds me close to Him. He can heal the hurting. He can catch the falling. He has the answers. He can be my strength. He can calm the storm and keep the boat from tipping. He can take my fear.
My theme song.
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