MYSPACE

Zacharys been bugging me for a while now to get a myspace page. I finally caved, but told him he had to agree to my strict rules first. His message emails would go to my address (so anytime someone comments on his page, I see it first), I will have access to his password, and his account would be "private" so only the people on his friends list would be allowed to view it - no strangers. Jen came over and helped him set up his page. (Thanks Jen!). He's been really good following the rules and I have no complaints about his page or what he has posted etc..Everytime he adds a friend, I go onto the friends page and check them out. What is shocking to me is that other parents are not monitoring what their children are doing! Theres one in particular, who has numerous pictures posted of her drinking tequila, passed out with captions like "me totally wasted"...These kids are like 11 and 12! Then theres another who has a pic posted with her sister, and the sister (maybe all of 14 at most) is in her freaking bra! And the language is terrible. Everyones blog is F this or F that. Then there are the girls his age who are posing trying to look sexy and sultry. Its disgusting! And these kids are all from his school or explorers. Why wouldnt the parents be monitoring? They all seem to be an expert on love, which is pretty funny to read. "So and So broke up with me and he was the best boyfriend ever, im never going to get over him "...OK YOUR 12! Its no wonder that theres so much trouble with myspace and people stalking kids and killing or kidnapping them when the parents turn a blind eye. Especially at this age, preteen and teen, when there just going through puberty and discovering who they are. Seems like such a crucial time in a kids life to not have a clue what there doing. Im one of those parents who believes the kids has no privacy till their 18. Its not that I dont trust him. I do. But I also know what peer pressure at 12 feels like. Heck, I was smoking by 13. I check his text messages, and if I felt the need to go through his room or backpack with a fine tooth comb, Id have no problem doing it. (I havnt had to though). Im not going to be one of those clueless parents. Im not doing it to be nosy, Im doing it to be safe. This is also the age where you ask " Hows school today" and he says "fine". Or "Whats going on with your friends" and he says "nothin". One word answers if Im lucky. We all know Zachary is a super great kid. Its other kids I dont trust. Lord knows there were plenty of things I didnt tell my mother. Who knew tequila is all the rage in 7th gtade? I dont regret letting him get a myspace page. Im kinda glad he did, so I can keep on top of who his friends are and whats going on!