Being a mom requires continual change, rethinking of old thoughts and ways, learning of new things(MP3Player, IMs, computers, cell phones, text messageing, ect) and staying up to date on the latest dangers to our children. I have been very worried lately about my oldest child's online time. How do I protect her, her innocents and still allow her time online. How do I know if some sicko out there is making contact with her? Sure we have had the talk about never ever giving out personal information but I know from personal experiance that there is a certain sense of safety sitting in your own home, in front of a screen and not being able to see the person you might be chatting with.  It all seems so unreal or maybe that is just me.  Just read through my blog, you can find my children's names and comments to the state we live in. I guess I have had the mind set of Who could possibly care about us? I have been reading a wonderful book" Logged On and Tuned Out" by Vicki Courtney.  I have to tell you when I bought it I thought that she(my daughter) was the one doing the "tuning out" But as I read the book I realize that I may possibly be the one who was tuned out. I mean she is home in our school room on the computer but do I know who she is talking to?  or even what she is doing?  We have set up guide lines for online use you know time limits, what information is not ok to share, parent control is on but I was getting the increasing sense that it was not enough.  She asked the other day if she could go to "You Tube" and watch a music video. Have you been to that site?? OMG as far as I can tell anyone and everyone can post whatever they want on there. I am sure that if you sign up there is something about x rated/porn videos but oh my . So I told her she could watch the video only with me there and she could not go to that site without me or dad. She was ok with that and happily watched the video. Ok so with the guide lines we have in place why have I been feeling the way I have? I read a book a long time ago called "Protecting the Gift" and one thing that stuck with me was that I have these fellings about my children for a reason. God has given us parents this so we are able to protect our children. So I have decided to stop questioning it and just do something, something  I never thought I'd ever do. I have installed a monitoring program on my computer. I am now feeling like "Big Brother" spying on my child but in reality I guess I am not spying on her but the world that may make the choice to contact her. I still feel quitly about it as silly as that sounds. But I will not have someone stealing her and her innocence.  So there you are, I have joined the ranks of what? over protective mothers? spying on my child? having a hard time letting her grow up?  Well, maybe be from where I sit it is better than what I could be doing, tuning out.

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