Social Media 101: Parent Edition

I think parenting has always been a tough job, but these days the blistering-fast changes in technology have made it more (at least intellectually) challenging than ever before.

I often talk about the dilemma like this: When I was growing up there was no such thing as cell phones, the internet or Facebook/Instagram/Snapchat so I can’t call my mom and ask her questions like…

At what age did you let me get a Twitter account?

Did you “friend” my boyfriends on Facebook?

How much time is too much time on YouTube for a 10 year old?

…to help me make good parenting decisions for my own family.

And it’s a huge bummer that I can’t ask her because that’s how so much of parenting is done: remembering how we were parented and/or asking our own parents for advice.  But that doesn’t work anymore because technology changes so rapidly that the parenting rules of just a few years ago now seem antiquated.  Remember when we used to say…

Keep the family computer in a public place like the kitchen so you can monitor your kids’ usage.

…Ugh. That’s so 2004. And totally irrelevant.

It can be hard to keep up with the changes and the apps/sites/outlets that kids are frequenting.  I just saw this sort of funny, sort of serious description of the tops sites and how kids use them.  Take a look:

Moms: We’re All Just Doing the Best We Can

Welcome to Moms’ Month on Dr. Stephanie! This month I will be featuring guest posts from some awesome moms around the country.  They will be sharing tips, tricks, and funny stories about motherhood.  This will be a fun celebration – thanks for joining us!  Today’s author is Lynne Kendig.  Welcome, Lynne!

My name is Lynne Kendig and I am a recently retired family practice physician, married, and lucky to have my daughter and her family living nearby.

I have loved being a mom. My husband and I are now enjoying being grandparents to two very busy boys. One thing that amazes me is the amount of information “out there” for new parents to inquire about and absorb. I think it can be overwhelming. The digital world has made so many things easier, but it is just as easy to lose ourselves and the hours in the day.
When my daughter was little, we looked forward so much to vacationing at “the shore”, along the New Jersey coast. I think just watching the waves or walking along the beach gives you time to put life into perspective and solve some things your brain is working on. Here in Denver, the mountains give us that same sense of beauty, wonder and discovery. My advice would be to try to just be as present as you can. Play outdoors often. Listen. Take your time. And don’t be too hard on yourself. We are all doing the best we can.