Have I visited this topic before?
Maybe.
But it seems to be presenting itself to me, more and more...
Parenting a teenager is tough work, and the fact that I'm going to get a 13 year break between the two is probably a good thing.
MG is an incredibly good teenager, we are lucky. But that doesn't mean things are always golden and perfect. It shouldn't be!
She is doing her job, reaching for that elusive independence that we all craved at sixteen. Its good to see her progressing towards that.
But a vast difference between US being sixteen, and her being sixteen is the technology they have now.
These kids are SO dependent, and dialed into their computers, cell phones, iPods, and any other electronic thing they can get their hands on. If they are without them it's like they are missing a part of their soul.
They have no boundaries. Nothing is off limits. Everything seems to be exposed, there are no secrets, you can find anything out on the internets. About anyone.
Its ironic I am discussing this on a blog isn't it?
But, I have my secrets, my privacy, if you like, my hidden self. I like to think we all have that little kernel of ourselves. The one that hides.
But I am really starting to wonder if this group of kids, the teenagers of now, if they have that?
Is there anything they don't know?
is this good?
is it bad?
is it too much?
I don't have those answers. I never will.
I do know, though, that this Saturday, we are having a full on, technology free day. No computer. No phone. Nada. I think the TV might even be silenced.
Should be interesting
4 comments:
You are right about these kids today. They have so many advantages that I never had as far as the age of information goes.
We tried to set boundaries with our sons. It seem to work especially the games and the TV. Our sons are 7 1/2 years apart. I am so thankful they lead full lives with other activities such as sports and other things. They both like to read and I am glad they do.
It is fun to watch our oldest with his kids. They are fifteen and nine. He faces the same problems we did.
Having such a big age difference will be like having two only children. Things changed so much between our two.
I hope you are feeling much better. Have you decided on his name? I can't wait to find out what he will be called.
The other day, I left my mom's house and had a panic attack because I thought I forgot my phone. Granted, we only have cell phones now, so there's no house phone, but still. I mean, we lived forever with no phones when we went anywhere in our cars to anywhere, and here I am, freaking out. (And that's coming from me, who could care less about being able to be on the internet at all times.)
I am SO glad there wasn't Facebook when I was growing up. Or cell Phones. Man - the trouble that would've caused!!
Glad to hear you guys are aware of it (I expected nothing less)!
Perfect time to curl up with a REAL book
Wow Saturday sounds good. That's why I love camping - it takes you away from all the tech stuff - but it's good to get back to it too.
E and M at 10 and 6 are already very much into ipods, moshi monsters and Ds's. When E starts Secondary School in September I know she will want her own email address and a mobile phone, and that's ok as long as I don't lose her to it all completely.
Graet post hon. Made me think.
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