The following is one of those posts that could come back and bite me in the ass. I'm going to live dangerously and post it anyway...
Yes indeed, tonight was Back to School night at my 9 year old daughter's middle school. This year I decided to play it low key, so I wore a cute hoodie with jeans. My hair was clean and brushed, and I had on a little Chapstick. I should have known better. Usually I plan out my outfit, and throw on some blush and mascara, but I'm still not completely recovered from my bout with strep, so quite frankly, I didn't FEEL like getting all dolled up to parade around the school.
Anyway, just as I figured, everyone had on their cute little "casual" ensembles. Their hair was nicely styled, and they had makeup and jewelry on.
I'm surprised no one asked me about the gym class I teach, or to take out the trash.
Luckily I can redeem myself at Back to School Night at the elementary school this Thursday. Believe you me, I am going to look SMOKIN!
As we were leaving my daughter's classroom I was chatting with one of the other moms in the class. This mom is a real tough cookie. She is the Principal's worst nightmare. Although she stays at home she has a Master's in Education so she knows it all. Anyway, she says to me "Rachel* is really impressed that Meg goes on "You Tube" she talks about it all the time. She is really impressed by that!" Okay lady, I get your point.
Now I'll admit to you. I let my daughters go on "You Tube" under my supervision. They like to watch "Fred." (If you don't know who he is, check him out, it's this kid named Lucas from Nebraska, he's hilarious.) They also like "Charlie bit my finger." (Once again, go look at it for yourself.) I let them look at goofy stuff like boxing cats or a dog rock band. I have filters on my computer, so they aren't watching porn. Every once in a while Fred says "Frickin." But I'm okay with that.
I read a statistic that by the time most children are 12 they've watched over 10,000 murders on TV. Now that shocked me! I don't let my children watch any shows with sex or violence, but a little goofy humor on "You Tube" is okay with me.
The problem is, my daughter really likes Rachel* and wants to have her over. Now I'm wondering if her Mom will let her, because "Meg goes on "You Tube." My husband is completely against "You Tube." I guess most parents are.
What is a "bad mother" to do???
Seriously, I want to know what you think. Should I cut her off from "You Tube" completely?
I'm not scared of what she sees. (Maybe I'm naive.) But I don't want her to get a bad reputation.
Back to School Night sucks.
*Not her real name
9.23.2008
It's Back to School Night!!! And a good time was had by all...
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25 comments:
Oh cripes. Mrs Master's Degree needs to get the stick out of her ass.
My girls watch music videos on YouTube. Shoot me now!
Kyla loves YouTube and has her favorites...Sparta, the Mean Kitty...I'm A Cat, I'm A Kitty Cat, & I Dance, Dance, Dance...and other funny animal clips. She also loves to watch the Scooby Doo clips.
Mrs. High & Mightly Master's Degree needs to deal with it or her little girl is not going to have alot of friends.
I send my kids links to youtube videos. We have filters on their computer, too, so I don't worry.
I think I'm the same kind of mom you are - I'm the more lenient mom in the neighborhood when it comes to stuff like that. I think freaking out over such things (like my own mom did) just entices kids more and makes them sneaky (like I was).
I agree with sheri/cookingmom. If you take it away, it only becomes that more enticing. If you're like 'whatever' here it is and this is what you can watch, isn't it cool, then you're going to have a better relationship with her than Master’s is going to have with hers. As for your daughter and Rachel*, well...you'll just have to see. If Master's won't let her daughter come to your house then let her go by hers. Also, if Master's won't let Rachel* come over, I'd tell your daughter the truth. Maybe she'll decide to stop watching on her own. At least YOU didn't stop her and you're not the bad mom.
If it wasn't for YOU TUBE I would have never found Bon Qui Qui! Thanks to my daughter we have long running laughter over that clip. We should all be so perfect. This is a crap shoot parenting, sometimes we are winners and sometimes we are losers. I bet poor RACHEL is stressed trying to be perfect like her mom!
As one with a M.Ed. (I'm not bragging, I just saying) I'm amazed at how LITTLE I know on a daily basis. Uppity people get on my last nerve...
Tell her to kiss your ass. There's nothing wrong with kids using the internet with supervision. Geez. Maybe Ms. Master's Degree needs to find a job and something more important to worry about.
I let Julie watch You Tube and frankly I think any NORMAL 8 or 9 year old kid looks in there for the same shit- kid stuff...she has filters in her computer and I'm the administrator and the way it's set up, I mostly have to go ok her opening of anything- which is kind of annoying now
My kids watch You Tube. They even watch on my iphone when we're driving in the car. They love "Charlie Bit My Finger." Invite the daughter over, and casually and laughingly mention something about "And don't worry, there will be no You Tube, even though they do only watch g-rated stuff on there!" And then ask her if she's ever been on you tube. Tell her she should, that there's a lot of stuff on there for just for the kids. That way you get your point across, too, just like she got her point in.
My kids watch YouTube all the time. If that makes me a bad parent, oh well...like you, I have filters on the computers too, it's all good.
We have parents like that at our school...heck, one Mom I know, who I happen to play tennis with, freaks out if her kids say CRAP, yes CRAP...but you should hear her on the courts, CRAP is NOTHING compared to what she says, lol
My girls (8 & 11) watch YouTube. I'm always in the room, and they're looking up specific things, not just surfing. Plenty of their friends do, too. They come home telling me about this or that clip that random kid told them about.
I wouldn't change a damn thing that you do at your house because of a snarky comment from some high and mighty mom. Have Meg invite her over some time and if they say no once try again and if they say no again then you know what is up, but that is THEIR issue, not yours....you could always call her and reassure her that you have proper filters on your computer and properly supervise the kids if you feel that is necessary so that Meg is not penalized. (if you really think that is the reason why the other child can't come over) Good times.
We have back to school night tonight and now you've got my mind racing :) You are absolutely right, it's a mini fashion show.
I'd discourage that friendship. I know it isn't fair really to the kids but PITA moms are a problem for me. I'm all for steering them in the normal direction. Charlie bit my finger is one of daughter's favorites too.
I would have to agree, limited You Tube is fine. But what is wrong with a little sex and violence too. I mean they have to grow up some time:)(just joshin)Let Rachel come over, she will probably never want to leave!!!LOL
Don't assume you know what your parents think. One of them at least has surprised you over the years.
No matter what you do another Mom is going to judge you. I say just do what you are doing and not worry about it (I know it's easier said than done).
I think You Tube is fine as long as there are guidelines. My kids go on it, but it is supervised. I am sure there are a lot worse things they could see or walk in on.
My girls watch the same silly guys on youtube too. It's silly and innocent fun. I am right in the room. They aren't surfing around. She should know that there are safe options to the internet, since she holds a Masters Degree!
If you are a bad mother than so am I. I hate judgmental people!
Maybe you should cut her off from Rachel!
I've blog-hopped over.
First -- your description of the fashion show is dead-on at our Elementary School...the first few events at this school I wondered where everyone was going afterwards. Then it dawned on me. And I just don't care.
Second -- you probably don't want your daughter to "get involved" with that family anyway...if she's never met you and she is already passing that judgement on you, then the long-road-ahead to the future will only bring more of the same. Find a few other little girls who LOVE them some good, clean YouTube humor and encourage those friendships instead.
:) now, on to the next blog...
I agree tell her to kiss your ass, because I bet your kid can kick her kids ass!!
Watching funny little videos is NOT wrong. It's funny. Especially because you're RIGHT THERE with them. If she's not going to let her daughter come over because yours occasionally watches a funny little video on YouTube, that's just really too bad. As long as you're not letting them do it while her daughter is over, I don't see a problem.
My kids love some of the funny youtube clips -- AND there is a LOT of kids stuff on there - Cartoons from the 80's etc.
If this woman couldn't be direct and say, "I don't want my daughter watching Youtube when she's at your house." or "I'm concerned about the content on youtube - do you monitor what the kids watch on there?" then ignore her!
I hate passive agressive bitches...
Tell her to pull the stick out of her butt and get a clue. I bet her own child is watching the really bad stuff behind her back. That's the kind of kid that ends up being the really awful ones because they rebel against their tightwad parents.
I am with you. Let the kids watch and continue to monitor it for the really inappropriate stuff.
As for the clothes thing at Open House - isn't funny how the peer pressure we feel over stuff like that never changes. 13 or 30, it's still the same ol' feelings of will I measure up?
Yuck, I still hate school :)
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