While I don’t have
a teenager….yet…two more years to go until that pain begins. I do use social media to stay in touch. As mentioned in our reading Socialnomics: How
Social Media transforms the way we live and do business , http://proquest.safaribooksonline.com it is kind of sad that the family
around the dinner table, Ozzy and Harriet days are over and we are more into
the Ozzy and Sharon Osborne days. Still,
we as responsible parents must stay connected with our children. Meet them where they are is my motto. I know my 11 year old son is not going to
give me a complete run down of his day, or even his version of his day. He is not going to tell me about the bad
grade he got on a social studies test until he absolutely has to….fear will do
that to a person. But in some cases,
social media has been his saving grace.
Just this week, on his facebook page a group of friends were complaining
about a test in social studies. This
prompted me to check on his online grade book from his teacher that confirmed
two low test scores. I then ask a
“secret” 6th grade mom facebook page if anyone else was having
trouble in the class. A mother responded
“Well what do you expect. We are more
than a month into the school year and the kids still don’t have textbooks to
study.” A call to the principal confirmed this fact and a written study guide
will now be sent home prior to an exam until the textbooks arrive. Social media saved him from being
grounded….for now.
My daughter is only 6, so I have a few years before this hits. I do have to say that, if done right, I can see social media being a good thing for parents sometimes. Our kid's generation is gonna be in so much trouble because we know about the ins and outs of the internet. Thankfully, my mom didn't know much about computers when I was a teenager. I could have gotten in soooooo much trouble!
ReplyDeleteWhile I thought your post was very good and true, I have to disagree on one thing - the "Ozzy and Harriet" days are over is not necessarily true - even though our teenaged daughters were running here and there and doing all sorts of sports, working, and going to friends, our rule was dinner together no matter what. It may be difficult but is doable if it is a priority in one's home -- at least most of the time. Sometimes we ate in silence because they were mad at us, but they ate with us nonetheless :)
ReplyDeleteI have to say even Ozzy and Sharon are too far behind these days. I recall Ozzy getting extremely angry at a Harmony digital remote on one episode.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Ozzy and Harriet, we have a no phone at the dinner table and at least on meal a day is a sit down family talk type. As Barbara said, it can be done :)
PS
ReplyDeleteGlad SM prevented an undeserved grounding lol