This year I find that I have also become the designated driver for OTHER PEOPLE's children as well. Now, I don't really mind this, as I am out anyway, and most of these kids are friends of my kids. But tonight I took my neighbor home from M.Arts, (Yes, we have recruited the whole neighborhood over the years!). She is 17. She ended up coming back to our house, because her folks weren't home from choir practice yet, and she is scared to be at home by herself. When she got here, she asked if she could check her comments at "MY SPACE". After a few questions, I let her. My computer is in a makeshift office space in our living room, so after I got everyones dinner, I walked through to find Jack staring at the screen beside Neighbor Girl. Her friends had posted provocative pictures of themselves.....asking for comments. I immediately told her to get off the computer. She, of course began apologizing profusely and swore she didn't know what was on there. Privately, we had a long talk, and hopefully I made myself clear, without being over bearing. I saw a side of the teen scene tonight that I am glad that I didn't have to grow up in. I saw a website for a girl that I know pretty well (not my neighbor). She is from a Christian home. I know her family. I am so shocked! I honestly think that most parents are clueless as to what their kids are doing on the internet. ACK! DO NOT let your children have free, unmonitored access to the internet!!! AHhhhhhhh!!! think about when you were 16......could YOU have handeled that kind of thing wisely???? I snooped around on the MY SPACE sight after she left, and found several kids that I know......with NOTHING positive going on on their web sites.
It was talking with Neighbor Girl that really opened my eyes. Poor thing. She struggles, she really does, trying to be a good Christian girl, and yet there is SO MUCH around her. She told me so much.(She always does.) Ugh.
In a way, this was actually reafirmation for me. For the direction that we have chosen for Austin, so far, and all the leg work that it involves. His time is filled with goals and work and purpose and positive influences. there will always be things to trip him up, (Satan works that way), but I pray to God that he never drains his mind and ambitions by something so utterly useless.
As a side note, later in the evening, Austin asked if I minded if he jumped on the computer. Neighbor Girl looked surprised, and said, "What does Austin look at on the computer?" "Major League Baseball . com.....what else?"
Wow. What a wake up call.
thank-you so much for all the prayers. They are SOoo appreciated. Sending out prayers of my own tonight for Dy and Lynette, and their families who are all struggling with illness. Feel better guys!
G'night,
Melissa
3 comments:
Myspace.com is a big topic of discussion in my middle/high school literacy class. So many of us were clueless at just how much these kids reveal to strangers. It was quite disturbing. Keep up the good work, you're doing a great job!
Hey, I have a clean MySpace account, I think I'm the only one and my 14yo neice is on my friends list and SHE is provacative! I can't even let my kids see it when I go to check what's going on in her life. YIKES. She's FOURTEEN!
And no, I woudln't have handled it wisely. I thank God everyday internet wasn't popular when I was a teen. I don't want those years recorded in any way, shape, or form. *shudder*
Oh honey. That's scary stuff! Adolescence doesn't have to be quite the quagmire that it becomes, but it's up to the parents to guide and direct the process. You really affirmed a lot for me in this post. Thanks.
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