Standing on my Soap Box

I am an ogre, but before I continue let me warn you, that as I write this, I have a head thing going on, and I’m not sure if it’s a sinus thing or an ear infection, but my head feels and sounds as if it is hollow, I feel like crap, and my opinions are flowing freely. (Sorry) I have taken my spot on my soap box. I am woman hear me ROAR!

Well, it is official. I am the ogre mom. My son has a cell phone which allows him to do a number of things. He can surf the web, text people, use “face time” and you tube, and a few other things. I have shut some of those features off, and I have put age restrictions on others.

I see a call come in after nine and I have answered it, stating that he is now allowed calls after a certain point at night. What’s worse? I have totally invaded his privacy. Are you ready for a gasp? I read his texts! I go on to his facebook account and I read his messages. And do you want to know why? Does my son know  that I check his “stuff”? Yep! Is he ok with it? Probably not completely. I also limit his time on electronics.

Why you ask do I do this? Do I do this to cramp his style, or to invade his privacy? Is it because I have no life? (I work full time, I am a mother of three boys and a wife… time is at a premium) No I do it for protection, plain and simple. There are some things my almost 16 year old cannot handle, and at one point when I thought he was over his head, I took him to see a friend’s husband who is a psychology major to help him sort things out. I believe that as parents we have a) the right, b) the privilege, and c) the duty to care for our children. I am not suffocating him. I am allowing him age appropriate entertainment. Do I watch over him, yep, and when he proves to me that he is able to handle more responsibility I will give it to him.

I have often said to friends of mine when they have had to make a decision about their children, that I will give them my opinion, but it is up to them what they do. When they stand before God for the decisions they have made regarding their children, I will not be standing beside them receiving their judgement. I will however be standing on my own receiving my judgement for how I choose to raise my child.

I understand that most of my son’s friends aren’t really thrilled with me. Oh well. My children know that if they do not go along with my “Snooping”, then they don’t get to enjoy the privilege of the device they are looking at. The choice is theirs.

Sorry if I came on a little strong today, again I am a little under the weather…

SO now with all this said, why do I spew forth my opinions so freely? Is it sickness? Yeah probably, but also because there is a big bad world out there, and a lot of junk is on the internet, and electronics that are available. I also want you to know that you are the parent, I’m going through it just like you, and I am rooting for you…

Ok, off my soap box and into my bed.