Comments on: Is parenting more challenging today?

By: April

April — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:30:39 +0000

I’m only involved with my younger daughter’s PTA because the parents are all into technology. We hold most of our conversations through email, which makes it so much easier for me. And, frankly, I wish that the schools were more in the 21st century. Though I can communicate with the administrators at my younger daughter’s school this way, and even though the District gives them all email addresses, not all of the teachers are into it yet. And my older daughter’s school has a grading website now, but that’s just too static. The communication only works one way – outbound. I’m looking forward to the day that schools take advantage of all the 21st century has to offer.
April´s last blog ..Weekend Wrap-Up- Summers Over

By: BigLittleWolf

BigLittleWolf — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 17:22:04 +0000

Technology has made communication easier, but has also added burdens of expectation along with it. If anything parenting is more challenging than it used to be, having little to do with technology and everything to do with a world in which single / solo parents are bombarded on all sides – and with little support.

The competitiveness involved in everything – from schools to activities to summer programs to internships to colleges to jobs for the parents is heightened. There’s less money, less work-for-pay, more that’s considered “necessary” (computers, phones, parental involvement).

As for those bake sales, permission slips, homework help needed and everything else – I still get the last minute “ask” – despite emails, web sites, and a high school student.
BigLittleWolf´s last blog ..Sink or Swim

By: Parenting Online

Parenting Online — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 13:27:31 +0000

I actually see parenting as a bit more challenging today than before. The increased technology with twitter, texting, and others makes it easier for kids to be more mischievous. But I can also say that the gap in difference is not that big.
Parenting Online´s last blog ..Articles on Parenting Styles Parenting the Middle Child updated Fri Aug 13 2010 3-57 pm CDT

By: Heather

Heather — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:36:47 +0000

Thank you Dr. Leah & Rachel for the book! I’m so excited!
I sorta agree with Mandy and Mindy. It’s handy knowing what’s going on and for scheduling. My daughter is young, so I haven’t entered into the big time scheduling, yet. I just have to schedule visitation, doctor appointments, vacations, preschool, holidays (her dad is Catholic & I’m Jewish), gymnastics, and play dates.
However… I seem to have a few more uses for technology that those two ladies didn’t touch upon.
I don’t speak to my daughter’s father, because he’s verbally abusive and threatens me frequently. So, text messaging and emails are far superior to phone calls. We are able to have a record of what was and wasn’t said. We’ve had many arguments about what information has been relayed, and it’s nice to be able to go back through emails and see what, in fact, was relayed. It’s also nice to have our arguments on the record. Should we ever have to go back to court, there will be a record and a context to what was said.
And, yes, my daughter has her own cell phone. It’s very basic and bare bones. She knows how to use it to call us and her grandparents. She is limited to NO text messages and 25minutes per month, and unlimited calls to her dad and me. Yes, she’s 3. She’s had her phone for a year now. It may seem like I’m out of my mind giving a toddler a cell phone, but her dad kept calling me and screaming at me (a la Mel Gibson), and then telling the court that he was being denied phone time with his daughter. So, to straighten things out, I got our daughter her own phone. This way, there are two separate phone records; one set of records for when he speaks to our daughter, and one set for when he and I speak on the phone. Now there is no confusion about how much phone time he’s given with our daughter and how much time he spends speaking to me. He was using our daughter as a way to further abuse me, and I nipped that in the bud. I recommend this option for anyone in the same situation as me.
The downside of technology is that I am subjected to a constant barrage of text messages from my daughter’s father about a number of items that seem to have nearly nothing to do with raising our daughter. Another downside is that whenever I take a cell phone photo of our daughter and send it to him, he is able to find out where we are based on the location data embedded in the photo. And finally, the downside is that it’s rather hard to unplug and walk away, because he then claims that he’s being denied access, and information about, our daughter.
All-in-all, I think technology has its benefits, if you’re willing to accept the pitfalls.

By: Mandy

Mandy — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:46:54 +0000

I’m with Mindy. I have a 17YO and 14YO and I definitely expect them to take more responsibility. I love google calendar – they each have a calendar which they share with me and their dad. I’m trying to make them responsible for entering their own appointments. In fact with my 17YO I’ve now said that I won’t schedule any appointments for her, she needs to do it because I’m tired of having to reschedule because of events she hasn’t told me about.

We’ve also just registered for the next school year and finally, the school has sent home printouts of the info they have on file for us and asked us just to make changes. I’m so tired of filling out the same info year after year.

Thanks for the prize! Can’t wait to read it.
Mandy´s last blog ..The key to fixing your husband is you

By: Mindy@SingleMomSays

Mindy@SingleMomSays — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:36:31 +0000

With 4 kids ranging in ages from 19-5, I can’t say I’ve seen a difference because of technolgy. Sure, having a cell phone when someone misses the school bus makes it a little more convenient (for them!) but otherwise I cant say that online calanders or emails simplify things for me. Maybe if I had just one kid I’d think differently but I do also place a lot of responsibility on the older kids to keep track of their schedules, cuz really – mine plus 4 more just ain’t gonna happen without some help. If they tell me the night before that I have to run out and pick up posterboard for a project due tomorrow, sometimes they just have to face the consequences for not being more on top of things. I want my kids to do well in school but they also need to be held accoutable and learn that mommy can’t or won’t always bail them out when they mess up. Of course, having access to their attendance and grades online is helpful in tracking what’s going on.
Mindy@SingleMomSays´s last blog ..For a Friend