Comments on: The Smart Momma’s Facebook Pledge

By: Alicia Hall

Alicia Hall — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 13:23:27 +0000

Excellent advice to follow! FB adds a whole new dimension to parenting. Thanks

By: Regina Jennings

Regina Jennings — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 02:27:06 +0000

Susan, I’m glad to hear you’ve been diligent on that. I know everyone follows different degrees of modesty, but there’s got to be some common ground, especially when we’re talking about our under-aged daughters. Keep up the good work!

By: Susan Crawford

Susan Crawford — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 21:22:22 +0000

Love this post, Regina! I agree with all of these points, but the young girls in skimpy swimsuit pictures send me over the edge! My 13 year-old daughter has heard “NO swimsuit pics!” as my last words before every swim this summer. Yes, I get the eye roll and the annoyed “I know, I know” but I get that most of the time anyway. 🙂 Here’s to smart mommas raising smart kids.

By: Regina Jennings

Regina Jennings — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 19:53:38 +0000

Jennifer – An eight-year-old would have to lie about her age, right? I don’t get it. Good point about being FB friends with your kids and checking up on them.

Joanne – The internet makes us brave, doesn’t it? This post for example. LOL.

Jessica – Thanks for your input. You’re right about adult friends. I’ve had to make some tough calls on letting adults friend my teens. Some of them are nice and well-meaning, but they don’t follow “smart Momma” rules and I don’t want my daughters to get drawn into those discussions. Good reminder.

Sarah – Sounds like we need to start a list of smart young’uns dos and don’ts. It’s scary to think a political or moral discussion could cost you a job or college application, but that’s where we are now. Great reminder.

Thanks you all for the reposts and retweets! I really appreciate it!

By: Sarah Sundin

Sarah Sundin — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 19:45:34 +0000

Amen to Jennifer’s additions!! My kids were all required to friend my husband and me – and each other. I stalk their pages daily and they know I do – granted, mostly because they’re funny and I love the window into a part of their world I don’t see.

But I also stalk to nip things in the bud. One of my son’s college friends started a discussion about a divisive subject on my son’s wall. They were courteous, but my son was applying for jobs, so I suggested (in a private message) that he and his friend take the discussion to private messaging rather than the very public wall. My son agreed and removed the post from his wall. Kids (even in college) are still learning the public – and permanent – impact of what they say online.

By: Jessica R. Patch

Jessica R. Patch — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 19:31:29 +0000

Regina, these are excellent pledges and I agree with Jennifer too. My child is my friend and I have her password and can access her account at anytime.

Also, if she wants to friend an adult or an adult has friended her, even if it’s someone she knows well, it must make it through me and hubby’s approval before she can send it or confirm. And she is not allowed to be friends with people she doesn’t know–random teens/kids. Because you just never know, ya know? 🙂

Loved this!!!

By: Joanne Bischof

Joanne Bischof — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 17:59:33 +0000

Wow, Regina, so glad you put all this into words! These are all so important! Everything we do and say sends a message. It’s my constant hope to send the right message for my sake, my husbands and my children’s.

I was talking to my mom on the phone just last night about how with the internet, people do and say things that they would never do in real life. If it’s not a comment I could say to that person, right to their face with pleasantness, then I don’t ever want to say it about them online. It’s just not fair to the other person.

By: Jennifer K. Hale

Jennifer K. Hale — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 17:18:50 +0000

Oh, Regina. I.love.this.post. Seriously. I agree with every word and pray that I’m doing my kids a service in this world of social media. I’m very protective. I only post their names and photos on my personal page (never on my blog or author FB page or Twitter) and I try to keep really personal details personal. There’s definitely something to be said for maturity.

Might I also add a few ideas for the pledge?

I will not allow my child to have a Facebook page before they are of age. *One of my small cousins, age 8, popped up on FB not too long ago as someone I might like to friend. ?????

I will require that my children are my friends on FB, and I will monitor their FB usage, and if they do not comply, they are welcome to delete their FB accounts.

By: Regina Jennings

Regina Jennings — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 16:48:47 +0000

LOL, I embarrass my kids enough in real life. They don’t need me sharing their business with the world. You never know who your child’s future employer or in-laws could be. You don’t want them to say “I remember when you were young you always had a problem with…”
And limiting medical history is a good idea for everyone! Especially if it isn’t your own illness you’re sharing.

Thanks for the input, Sarah.

By: Sarah Sundin

Sarah Sundin — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 15:27:53 +0000

I couldn’t agree more! A dear friend of mine going through a messy divorce (is there any other kind?) calls her ex the vilest names on Facebook – what are the children supposed to think? He’s their DAD! Sigh.

Might I add avoiding prayer requests for children’s health issues (with gory details) or personal issues – usually for a prodigal. Please. Leave the kid some self-respect!

My kids range from 13-19. Some of their real-world friends are my Facebook friends. Some of my Facebook friends are parents of my kids’ real-world friends. I leave the drama, frustration, and angst for in-person conversations with trusted friends. Why ruin their lives more than I already do by – gasp! – breathing!!!