This is sponsored content from
BlogHer and LG Text Ed
Remember when y’all asked me questions for my boys about online and cell phone safety?
We had the interviews.
I asked them a LOT of your questions and it garnered a really great conversation. We didn’t do just one sit down, we’ve been talking about it off and on for a week or so. Their answers both surprised me (“What is sexting”?? NEVER SO GLAD TO HAVE MY KIDS NOT KNOW SOMETHING IN THEIR LIVES), made me sad (James told me about a girl that had to move to a different school because of photos that had gotten out online) and made me laugh buckets, “when I asked James Sandi’s question of “can you be cool without being online/with a phone” his answer was “At my age? Probably. Down the road it’s looking MIGHTY IFFY, THOUGH.” HAHAHAHA!).
I wanted to keep this last question of mine a secret and get it on film to get a true response from them. I gotta say–I am hugely proud of my kids.
My 14-year-old James is up first. We filmed this at 7 am, so they are still a wee bit tired, but they were great sports.
And my sweet little Christopher. I, and many adult people who function online in the blogging community should take note from him about what to do with negativity online.
I love my boys.
They will be excellent men.
So, whaddya think, all?
I’d love a discussion, if you don’t mind. Roll your eyeballs down to see why and how you can help a really great cause just by talking in my comments section. :)
Because this topic is so important for our kids and their futures AND because BlogHer really wants to get the conversation about texting, sexting and safety going – both with our kids and among parents, they are matching LG’s donation of .50 to dosomething.org for every comment on this post, (which means $1 donation a comment to an organization that exists solely to help teens get involved in giving back. It’s“a community where young people learn, listen, speak, vote, volunteer, ask, and take action to make the world a better place. Currently, only 23% of this generation actively volunteers. Our hope is to create a do something generation: a world where more than 51% of young people are involved with community action.” )
Your sons are so intelligent and amazingly well-spoken. I am sure, you are very proud of them.
Sounds like you’ve done a great job too, Mama!
Thank you! They are very articulate boys and I’m very proud. I hope I’ve done a good job. It’s every mother’s worry. :) xo
Thanks for participating in such an important discussion. My son is almost 11, and this made me realize that we need to talk more about these things before they are part of his life. Sort of lay the groundwork. He is a (secular) homeschooler and the kids don’t really carry phones yet, even the younger teenagers. But he has many friends in regular school and I’m sure this is starting to come up with them.
And Yay for a dollar to DoSomething!
I dreaded talking about sexting with him but honestly…better to start now than when he doesn’t want to hear about it. I live in a pretty conservative place and cell phone ownership for their ages is not the norm but it is common. (AND, YES! YAY! A DOLLAR FOR DOSOMETHING.ORG!!!!)
Your boys are awesome! I’m so not looking forward to what the times may hold when my 2 year old reaches the age to use cell phones and the Internet.
I can hardly believe it’s that time myself, but here it is. OY.
My son got his first cell phone when he was 14 (of course, that was 10 years ago) and texting wasn’t even on the horizon at that time. My daughter, who is 18 and a college freshman, has alway been into texting and I made it a habit to spot check her texts. She didn’t always like it, but she understood that it was a conditon she had to tolerate to have a cell phone. I’m really glad I did that. I think it helped her understand what was and wasn’t appropriate texting.
Great blog, your sons will be excellant men!
James has had his phone for 2 years. His father got it for him earlier than I wanted but he did have reason to use it as he began taking the bus to his dad for visitation and we all felt better with him having a phone.
I TOTALLY spot check his phone.
Nice discussion.
Thanks for chiming in!
Awesome that you did this with your kids. The ‘peace out’ sign from James at the end was priceless. And a really good thing you said to Christopher about one day having to make his own decisions.
I think your sons are on the road to being terrific men too.
RIGHT!? That kid cracks me up. He’s like a mini-me only even more extroverted if you can believe it. (That clip is the most mellow he gets.)
We really stress that they will be on their own for good decisions and that it will impact the kind of lives they have as adults. I hope it sticks with them.
LOVE the answer to my question!! That was awesome!
Your boys are so cute.
YOU are doing a great job at protecting them!!
I could not WAIT to ask it. (I hearted it when I read it!)
Love yer guts, friend.xo
Your boys were great! Definitely could see the sleepiness. Lol! I can tell they are really grounded kids and they seem to have thought through some stuff that kids there age really haven’t. :)
They were really great sports. This was supposed to be up Wednesday but due to a comedy of errors, we had to film it before school this morning.
Wow! It wasn’t until I had watched both vids, that I was struck like a ton of bricks by something. That was the first time, since my own two boys, now 24 and 26, were that age, that I sat and listened, for over 4 minutes, to the perspective of boys their ages. Though the technology manifestations have changed, temptations never will. I was impressed with Jonathon and Your boy’s thoughts. Proverbs, 22:6 in action. Go Choate parenting squad!
I know, right? The more things change the more they stay the same. I was REALLY happy to hear them realize where OUR rules as parents and a family are. (I never know if they are actually hearing me, you know?)
I love the part where James said, I’d be totally grounded for all ETERNITY. Made me realize that he understood the concept of rules and consequences . Your sons will be great men.
At work (I teach middle school) I see all sorts of issues with this kind of stuff. I think a lot of it comes from parents not wanting to get into uncomfortable discussions with their kids, and avoiding the whole conversation. Unfortunately, though, I think a lot of it also comes from parents not staying educated, themselves. Technology changes daily and I think too many parents are oblivious to the problems that come with that change. I love that you are discussing this on your blog!
I am really hoping that I can avoid the conversation of sexting for at least a year or 2 (my oldest is 8) but I know it will be something I have to do.
Love the comment how your son says right now he can still be cool but in a few years it is iffy – hahaha! :)
Your kids are awesome and you’re a great mom for having this discussion with them. It’s an ongoing one at our house as well. You know, when I’m not busy direct messaging you.
I think the other thing that is important is for kids to communicate with their friends. Not everyone needs your mobile phone number, and if you give it to someone, ask them not to pass it on without your permission. Definately don’t put your number of your facebookpage. Surely cyber bullying would be that much more difficult if the mean kids didn’t have your number in the first place!
Just wanted to say that your boys seem really sweet! Well job mama! xo :)
I meant good job, it’s late! ;)