tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208215063042670675.post921020691118957959..comments2023-04-16T08:18:02.718-07:00Comments on The Gluten Free Pastor's Wife: Balance in the World of Social Media and TechnologyStacey Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06458586197431967160noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208215063042670675.post-49015786077994643762012-08-21T07:10:13.753-07:002012-08-21T07:10:13.753-07:00...and I realize some may be upset by the Facebook......and I realize some may be upset by the Facebook comment. I don't want to deviate from the topic or bash on a system or piece of technology. In our home, Facebook is not an option until you are 13, but a phone was for various reasons. So it's not about what it is, it's about how you monitor the time spent (balance) and set boundaries for your children, yourself and your family. Shaelanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208215063042670675.post-14431480849717825252012-08-21T07:00:25.337-07:002012-08-21T07:00:25.337-07:00I, too, respect your boldness on this topic as it ...I, too, respect your boldness on this topic as it is equally concerning to me as well. I think like with anything, balance is important to be aware of and is something that we are faced with in many of aspects of our lives; therefore, Heather is spot on in the fact that it truly also goes hand in hand with us as parents needing to remain as gatekeepers. For some it becomes a battleground however as children get older and seek further independence and socialization, causing many parents to cave in an attempt for peace, followed by comments of they "just want to interact with their friends or family so I set up an account, even though they aren't really of age", they've "had a busy day and just need some downtime", another is "I need them to be distracted as I've had a busy, long day", or to "just make them happy". I believe the initial groundwork of maintaining respect in the homefront and having honest, open and available conversations with your child beginning at a young age and continuing throughout is key in working out compromises and in creating situations where the parent as the gatekeeper is likewise respected and understood. Truth is the reality remains that we will still have struggles with them at times and cause them to be disappointed or sad by laying down or abiding to rules; however, it goes without saying that we are seriously failing our children if we give in to their demands, which is of equal concern to me in creating generations where they are given whatever they desire without any boundaries. One sitaution that I run into often is when a elementary aged child tells me that they they were up past ten on a school night on Facebook or their ipod or gaming system. I'm finding this to be more common than not, and I wonder why parents would think this was acceptable, but I guess if said parents are online into the wee hours before going to bed than perhaps that's where the gatekeeping system fails. Leading to me to another concern about the health issues of children and adults that are sleep deprived or cannot fall asleep on their own. Then there is the well known fact that we are our children's best role models and set the examples for them. How often are we visible to them and distracted on our own phones, ipods/pads, social media, etc? Two other soapboxes...(you have a way of bringing those out in me, LOL; it's a good thing).Shaelanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9208215063042670675.post-20083986690075591932012-08-18T11:25:41.421-07:002012-08-18T11:25:41.421-07:00I totally agree with you on this. I have to conti...I totally agree with you on this. I have to continually be "the gatekeeper" with my kids, because they do have texting, ipods, and Facebook. Wow, it's a struggle and I really appreciate your boldness on this topic! <br />Heather GAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com