Facebook Mom

OK, I have to admit that the only reason for joining Xanga, Myspace and Facebook was to be a watchful eye for my son and his friends. Being a Myspace Mom actually strengthened my relationship with my teen, if you can believe that.

The other day my 17 yr. old son asked, "Mom, how come you haven't asked me to be your friend on Facebook?" This was said over a lunch date with just the two of us sharing a white pizza with LOTS of garlic! To say the least I was shocked he invited me into his world that I usually barge into.

Up until recently the only reason I joined these networking forums was to be fully informed as a Mom. We have a rule in our house if you haven't personally met someone, then they can't be your friend ( with the exception of music groups, of course) You have to be friends with your favorite groups!

Recently, I found an unexpected blessing as I am so wet behind the ears with Facebook. Yes, I guess my pride gets in the way to ask my son how to do this. You can actually have a high school and college reunion! I have found long lost friends and am so excited.

I encourage you to enter into the unknown galaxy. Yes, Facebook can seem like 'the new frontier' to us parents. Trust me it is worth it to continue building bridges with your teen and can also expand your own horizons.

Will you be my friend? (Only if I know you of course!)

Isolation v. Connection

Isolation v. connection. How many of us struggle with this dichotomy in our deepest heart of hearts?

I was so touched by Lysa TerKeurst blog, "She Likes Me, She Likes Me Not". Check it out sometime www.lysaterkeurst.blog.spot.com. By reading the many responses, I realized I am not the only one who suffers from the disease of dorkness.

My soul cries out for someone to talk to…someone who really understands… someone to truly connect with. As the years go by I have realized that I am not the only woman who longs for this connection. Dee Brestin wrote a book years ago called, The Friendships of Women that addressed this very issue.

We live such separated isolated lives in our culture today. Piano lessons, soccer practice and PTA meetings keep us from eating dinner together, let alone allow us time to build deep relationships.

In years past several generations used to live under one roof or close by. A woman would learn how to keep house, cook and raise babies from her mother, grandmother, aunts and siblings who lived in the same house or nearby. But now we put our parents in nursing homes and move far away from family. Connection to family and friends is crowded out by our choices to be independent, prosperous, fulfilled and…lonely.

James 5: 16 says, "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."

Maybe it takes us to make the first move to find someone to "confess" to. I know, I know. Many of us say, "but I'm always the one that calls. Why doesn't someone call me?" Wish I knew the answer to that question. But most likely our non-initiating friends have a phobia about initiating. We all have our weaknesses, though.

I've been asking God for connections and it has been amazing how He has been answering. By the way, the little girl across the street who needs a 'Mom' to care, came over again last night. She needed.....connection!