I volunteer my time for a local food pantry in part as their social media specialist. I am involved in many different aspects of social media most of which was self taught. The one important 'thing' I have learned is that social media can be a pain. Consider this.
My 19 year old son has a twitter account. I found out by accident when I looked over at him and saw his computer screen and there was a twitter page up. I asked him if he was on twitter and he did his usual act when he doesn't want to lie to me so he laughs and denies what I am asking.
Being as savvy as I am about social media it wasn't that difficult to put in my son's first name and last name and try his nickname and last name combination. I found the right combination, recognized his incognito picture by the twitter handle he used. I read his twitter account.
Now, I must say it was tamer than I thought it would be considering he is out on his own for the first time, but there was one tweet that went out and it upset me.
It is now that I have to mention that my love language is words of affirmation. That means, if you really want to show me that you love me, you say something nice. If you want to wound me, say something bluntly horrible or mean. Well, my son said something that was rather mean in my opinion. It is due to the fact that my feelings were hurt because of my love language that the words are not as important as much as the fact that he said and had these feelings about me.
We had been waiting for several days to get our vehicle back from the shop because it needed some wheel, cv joint and something else to keep the wheel from falling off as we drive it around town. I had just stated that I was surprised that we hadn't gotten into a word fight as we often due now that he is so grown up. He agreed. He was anxious to get the vehicle back as he was looking forward to going out and seeing some friends. I received a call that little brother and dad were going to be paying for the vehicle and picking it up later. I didn't tell my 19 year old. When he found out, he was surprised that I hadn't told him.
I mentioned to him that the funny thing about social media, I am pretty good at it. I know the ins and outs of twitter. I can also read twitter posts that talk about me.
I am hurt by his words but more than that, I am hurt by the fact that he felt that it would be ok to write about me in this manner on a post to his friends. Not that I was mentioned by my proper name, where anyone could look it up on a search. But, the name he called me, 'mom' made it hurt even more.
I know kids hurt parents and parents hurt kids all the time, but I had hoped that since he was in college he began to appreciate me and what I do for him. He decided this year to go vegetarian. This is hard for someone used to making only one meal and nearly everyone with meat. Now, the mom in me wants to be able to make sure that this child has enough food to eat that will replace the missing animal protein. But his attitude towards me is upsetting. Considering all that I do for him.
Anyways, just made me think of all the great things social media does and aware of the pain social media can cause. I know it is not on the same degree as some of the bullying young people experience leading to their death, but it still hurts.
Taking Care of Written Word,
dannielyn
My 19 year old son has a twitter account. I found out by accident when I looked over at him and saw his computer screen and there was a twitter page up. I asked him if he was on twitter and he did his usual act when he doesn't want to lie to me so he laughs and denies what I am asking.
Being as savvy as I am about social media it wasn't that difficult to put in my son's first name and last name and try his nickname and last name combination. I found the right combination, recognized his incognito picture by the twitter handle he used. I read his twitter account.
Now, I must say it was tamer than I thought it would be considering he is out on his own for the first time, but there was one tweet that went out and it upset me.
It is now that I have to mention that my love language is words of affirmation. That means, if you really want to show me that you love me, you say something nice. If you want to wound me, say something bluntly horrible or mean. Well, my son said something that was rather mean in my opinion. It is due to the fact that my feelings were hurt because of my love language that the words are not as important as much as the fact that he said and had these feelings about me.
We had been waiting for several days to get our vehicle back from the shop because it needed some wheel, cv joint and something else to keep the wheel from falling off as we drive it around town. I had just stated that I was surprised that we hadn't gotten into a word fight as we often due now that he is so grown up. He agreed. He was anxious to get the vehicle back as he was looking forward to going out and seeing some friends. I received a call that little brother and dad were going to be paying for the vehicle and picking it up later. I didn't tell my 19 year old. When he found out, he was surprised that I hadn't told him.
I mentioned to him that the funny thing about social media, I am pretty good at it. I know the ins and outs of twitter. I can also read twitter posts that talk about me.
I am hurt by his words but more than that, I am hurt by the fact that he felt that it would be ok to write about me in this manner on a post to his friends. Not that I was mentioned by my proper name, where anyone could look it up on a search. But, the name he called me, 'mom' made it hurt even more.
I know kids hurt parents and parents hurt kids all the time, but I had hoped that since he was in college he began to appreciate me and what I do for him. He decided this year to go vegetarian. This is hard for someone used to making only one meal and nearly everyone with meat. Now, the mom in me wants to be able to make sure that this child has enough food to eat that will replace the missing animal protein. But his attitude towards me is upsetting. Considering all that I do for him.
Anyways, just made me think of all the great things social media does and aware of the pain social media can cause. I know it is not on the same degree as some of the bullying young people experience leading to their death, but it still hurts.
Taking Care of Written Word,
dannielyn
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