Don’t you love that feeling as a parent when you know you are doing something right? It doesn’t always happen where we can get that assurance. In fact, guilt and doubt often plague mothers in particular. Well that’s how I felt after hearing something on the radio about being your teen’s Facebook friend. Experts claim that the communication between you and your teen is better if you don’t interact with them much (if at all) on Facebook. Why? Because the more you click “Like” or respond with comments, the more it is seen as stalking. That will cause your teen … Continue reading →

I never thought this day would come…that my oldest son would take the Facebook plunge. But he did it. It wasn’t until he joined the ranks that I truly realized how addicting it can be. I know this might sound pretty trivial. Big deal, so your teenager finally joined Facebook…they do it every day. But you would have to know my son to realize how out of character this is. He has always protested when I encouraged him to join in. Honestly, the only reason I did that is because I so enjoy the connection it affords between me and … Continue reading →

Facebook has become a love-hate relationship for me. I love the fact that I am able to keep in touch with family members more closely. I love being able to connect with other writers. I love finding old friends. I love how my church has its own Facebook community. While all of these are things I love, there are also things I hate. Like the sometimes dumb stuff my children post. Especially when they are friends with church leaders or family members, leaving wide open the door of possible judgment being passed. I hate the way someone can think they … Continue reading →

When my kids were younger it was easy to pay them a compliment. They soaked it up. You could see the gleam in their eye as their smile took up their whole face. It was like watching sunshine come through. These days…well, whenever I try to give a compliment I get the raised eyebrow, a roll of the eyes or a shrug of the shoulders (which translated means “whatever”). It’s just a phase…it’s just a phase…I keep telling myself. But I won’t stop paying them compliments because I know that their outward behavior isn’t a true reflection of what is … Continue reading →

I love Facebook but sometimes it becomes T.M.I., or “too much information,” for those who aren’t familiar with this particular acronym. It’s not just the teens who I am friends with (which is kind of funny because the majority of them would never give me the time of day in person) but it’s the parents. Parents sometimes share things about their children on Facebook that they would probably be horrified about if they knew. There are just some things that need to stay in the family. Of course, I am just as guilty about sharing things I probably shouldn’t. I … Continue reading →

When it comes to social media, are you an oversharing mom? In other words, do your posts and pictures constantly feature your children? Are you always bragging about them? Well if you are a new mom, you just might become the victim of “UnBabyMe,” a tool on Facebook that will eliminate photos of your precious bundle of joy. Users who download this tool can swap out pictures of babies with other photos of their choosing. As of this writing, there are almost 30,000 users who are enjoying the ability to clear out baby pictures. Personally, I love to see pictures … Continue reading →

Despite my love for Facebook and the fact that I allow my teens to partake, there are definitely times when the spotlight shines on the downside. Take for instance when a teenager decides to air their dirty laundry. Thankfully my teens are respectful enough (or maybe it’s just that they are smart enough to know better) to not say negative things about me on Facebook. I don’t care if they think I’m being unfair or that I don’t know what I’m talking about; voicing these opinions on social media is a no-no. I’m also glad they don’t share with the … Continue reading →