I recently saw a joke online: Facebook is like your refrigerator. You know there’s nothing new in there, but you keep checking anyway.
You know where I saw it, right?
Yes, I’m here to publicly declare my love for Facebook. Though I’m not always happy with the constant changes in format, and in spite of my lack of full understanding of privacy rules and regs, I do feel that I get distinct pleasure out of Facebook, and I’m happy that I have it in my life.
When I was a stay-at-home mom, I peeked at my laptop a whole lot during the day. I wouldn’t necessarily spend a long time on there, but I would refresh my email and my Facebook feed, just to see what was going on with other folks out there. For a while there, it seemed like I always had at least one napping child in the house, so there would be days that I did indeed stay at home, and Facebook helped be my window to the outside world. When you’re nursing all the live long day, and you have two little ones in diapers, it’s kind of nice to be able to chat or check in with friends without having to worry about when you last brushed your hair.
Now that I’m in a classroom for the majority of the day, I don’t get to log in like I used to. Thankfully, during my break, I can pop on and get a little glimpse of what’s going on with friends near and far. Sure, it’s easy to say that these online connections might take the place of actual face-to-face interactions, but the reality for me is that at least right now, I spend nine to ten hours away from home each day, and by the time my commute and work day is over, there isn’t much time left for socializing with pals. They, like me, are too busy with their families, making dinner, cleaning up, giving baths, reading stories, and passing out on their couches. (I’m just assuming I’m not alone on that last one.)
So, for the time being, Facebook helps me be connected, even just a little, to those I love. I read statuses, I comment to make others laugh or to express my sincere concern or love, and I try to write updates that will hopefully stand out to them, too. Who knows what role it will play in my life in coming years, but for now, it’s a simple fact. I heart Facebook.
You might as well embrace it and love it now because when those children grow up into teenagers, that will be your only way to communicate with them and stay in touch with what they are doing. If you ever really want to know what your kids are thinking or doing check out their facebook page. I keep up with my neices and nephews at college this way as well although I don’t always like seeing the pictures of what they have been doing on the weekend.
But really, our rule is you must be friends with mom on facebook if you want to have an account. Their rule for me is I can’t make stupid comments or “buzz kill” their posts. With all the stress and pressure these kids are under it really is a good way to gage their emotional stability.
As for me, after 8 moves I get to keep in touch with my friends around the country.
As Martha would say “IT’S A GOOD THING.”
Thanks for your comment, Kelly. I’ve given that much thought for the future. Our son will turn 12 this summer, and he has vaguely mentioned that he’d like to go on Facebook, but I know that it’s just not something necessary or probably good for him right now. I know the rule is that you must be 13 to join, but I kind of hope he’ll hold out even longer.
I’m old enough now that I have two facebook friends who were students in the very first preschool class I taught in 1997. They were 3 then. They’re starting to look at colleges now!!
This expreses my own feelings so well. People sometimes think I must be on it all day but I just take peeks here and there on my phone, and I use it for the walking portion of my workout.
Someday I’ll get a smartphone, and then I might be in real trouble!!