lol

Hey, wrud? (what are you doing?)

Idk (I don't know)

gtg (got to go)

Having a middle schooler with a phone is an interesting experience for lots of reasons.

One reason being when you are a parent who reads your son's texts (he was fully aware of this when he got texting privileges) before they are deleted, you learn a lot of social lingo abbreviations.

smh (shake my head)

I am a strong believer in reading your kids texts, well, at least in the beginning while they are learning the ropes, and also because a kid can get in a lot of trouble with a cell phone. Pictures. Texts. It is a different world, my friends.
(For those who think that is an invasion of privacy, you must not read the news/ watch TV, and that is totally up to you, but I have seen quite a few kids with an unchecked facebook, which was a BAD IDEA.

You, see my son does not have FB, but a couple of his friends requested me as a friend, so I obliged, being told by my prayer group it provides good information about what they are doing and their character. Well played, dear prayer group. (I have found out a lot being an approved "stalker", remember they invited me to friend them, not me, why? I have no idea why they friended me!).

Anyway, one kid is constantly posting stuff, but on New Year's eve, he posted the following status, "Man, my dad is so drunk!". To which several of his friends replied: lol (Laughing out loud).

Hmm... Think those parents who go to church and work in the community would possibly wish they knew that was on his FB page for his 500 "friends" to see?

By the way, "hmm.." is not an abbreviation, it is just me pondering.

I am not sure why I am talking about this, but it just struck me as a problem my parents never had to face. No computer growing up. No cell phones. No FB. No texting.

Ah... simpler times?

My son's texts are all very innocent. Mind numbingly boring, in fact. BUT I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THAT!

I hope it stays that way.

At Christmas the adults were sitting around talking about texting culture, and how the kids don't call each other anymore, they just text.

Then my brother and sister in law discussed how recently they had both seen job applications with texting abbreviations on the resume and application. Really?

I was so appalled. Needless to say, those peeps did not get the jobs.

Also, my brother in law said that one of the their requirements is that an applicant pull up their facebook page during the interview.

He said if they refuse, no hire. Those who do have often had some questionable things posted.

Sobering news, something to think about. He also said that a growing number of kids and young adults do not know how to read cursive. It isn't taught in school as much anymore. Yikes!

I even recently read in a magazine a story about texting, inappropriate pictures being taken and mass texted, and the negative toll on teenagers girls who are much more apt to be "snarky" or jealous and make negative statements on FB that they would not say in real life feeling more protected in type in the comfort of their own home.

I am not sure what the answer is?

I know being a vigilant parent is a huge part, but just saying "no, no, no, never" to cellphones, FB, etc. can not be the whole answer either.

I know of a girl whose parents will not let her have FB until college, and she sneaks and goes on all her friends accounts at school, after school sports, and sleepovers on their phones/Ipods/computers/Ipads and just posts through her own email and account, so her parents have no control or knowledge of what she is doing, but the kids all know her "assumed name".

On the other hand, my daughter's ten year old best friend has had a FB account for two years and an IPhone for Christmas, and I think: too much, too soon, too immature to handle all of that. However, our daughter and son are two of the ONLY kids I know in their social circle and MINE (including mostly church friends, preacher kids, etc.) who do NOT have FB.

smh

Teens are crafty. Social media has changed a lot. I even know two adults who have a FB account for their pets. I wish I were kidding, but smh. Whew!

PS: I am driving spell check crazy, apparently it has not been updated to identify the newest English language: texting.

So I am scared to ask, but thoughts??

gtg

scared momma (my tag line)