Being Social

I've been getting daily emails on how I'm supposed to sign in to the Parent's Lounge so I can share my experiences with other parents. Apparently I have not been following my own assignments, although I've been very diligent with Ian's.

So I scrolled down the list of first line comments and was struck by this thought (be forewarned, this is not a kind thought) How do these people find the time to chat online? Don't they have jobs? Don't they have to halfway clean their house? Don't they have spouses and dogs and cats and laundry and appointments and a husband who is always forgetting his phone and needs me to bring it down to work to him?

I'm also getting emails alerting me to the fact that I've been added as a friend to someone's Facebook. I think that if I wanted to be this person's friend, I wouldn't need an email alert. I also think that if I wanted to be this person's friend, I'd call them.

This concerns me. Again, how do these people find the time to keep updating their Facebook (never mind the time it takes to upload photos)?

Ian wants a Facebook account. He also wants an email. I'd rather Ian hung out with friends at the Skatepark or on the ski hill or biking  or any variety of activities he can do which doesn't allow others, who don't even know him, to access his friendship.

I want him to get and even lose friends the old-fashioned way. Face to Face. Conversation to Conversation. I'm not sure the cyberspace network is a good thing. I think it isolates people and fills voids that should be filled other ways. I think it takes time away from your spouse (especially if you're online complaining about your spouse.) Ian says all the kids do it and he's probably right.

It's all rather ironic since we're homeschooling online and the whole online schooling has opened up a myriad of opportunities for people everywhere, but I still think friends and relationships should be built face-to-face.

Words are capable of creating and changing and directing and persuading, but I also believe that a few, short words typed out in a burst of emotion cannot be taken back like they can when you're talking and touching and looking and talking even more.

So for now I think we'll stick to just online schooling and I'll drop him off at the skatepark and when I pick him up and he tells me he's mad at JD I can talk to him, knowing full well that tomorrow he and JD will still be friends.