Your Children, Their Teachers and Social Networking

Should your children be allowed to interact with their teachers through social networking web sites such as Facebook and MySpace?

A new policy is being considered by the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education in North Carolina on Tuesday, Dec. 2. This policy strongly recommends that school-system employees not communicate with students through such sites.

The policy also strongly recommends that employees not list students as "friends" on their personal pages unless the student is a relative and warns that any communication between employees and students should be appropriate.

Some teachers say they see social networking as helpful for creating connections with struggling students who might be afraid to speak up in class or in person.

So what do you think? Is there harm in students connecting with their teachers online? Should there be guildelines?

When a Mother's Love Goes Too Far

What mom hasn't gone above and beyond for her child at some point? If the truth be told, some of us could be accused of doing too much for our children. But just like with everything else, you must draw the line when it comes to protecting or standing up for them.

What kind of love drove 49-year-old Lori Drew to pose as a 16-year-old boy on MySpace to harass a 13-year-old girl who had a falling out with her daughter? What message was this woman sending by conspiring with two others in creating and maintaining a MySpace profile for a non-existent 16-year-old boy named "Josh Evans" in the summer of 2006. This baby boomer "ought to know better" mother used the account to flirt with and befriend 13-year-old Megan Meier, who later committed suicide after being told by Drew/Josh told Meier the world would be a better place without her.

Sadly, there is no law on the books that can charge her with anything more than computer hacking for allegedly violating MySpace's terms of service with the intent of inflicting emotional distress.

So what do you think? Is Drew a sicko mom who is guilty of causing this young girl's death or is she just a mother whose over-protective nature got out of control? And how would you go about protecting your child from the likes of a Lori Drew or any other cyberspace bully?

Meanwhile, Drews guilt or innocence will be determined by a jury in a trial that began today.

The New First Grandma is Going to the White House

There's a report out on the Politico website that the White House might be getting its first "First Grandma."

According to the article, 71-year-old Marian Anderson, mother of First lady Michelle Obama and mother-in-law of President-Elect Barack Obama, will be moving to the Nation's Capital to offer some much needed assistance to the family.

Throughout the past two years, it was Grandma Marian who made sure the Obamas' daughters, Malia and Sasha, were well taken care of while mom and dad were on the campaign trail. She was quoted in the Boston Globe saying, “If somebody's going to be with these kids other than their parents, it better be me."

The First Grandma is just doing what any grandmother who wants the best for her family would do. I applaud Marian "Grandma Diva" Anderson for playing such an important role in her grandchildren's lives.

Certainly she doesn't need any tips from me--but hopefully Michelle will let her read the book I gave her, Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age, so she can have a laugh or two during the "trying" times.

One thing for sure, when my grandson becomes President--I'll be right there with him. But I'll be serving in a different role. I think I'll be his Chief of Staff.

Take an Aids Test for College Extra Credit

College sure has changed a lot since I went more than 30 years ago. I recall earning extra credit in my political science class by going to see the movie Casa Blanca and then writing an analysis of the movie as it related to a topic given to the class by the instructor.

Well, it seems that in my college daughter’s Health Studies class the students have been given the opportunity to earn extra credit by going to their Student Health Services Center and taking an aids test. God forbid that some of those young people discover they have the deadly disease. But it doesn’t matter because they will still get extra credit.

So what has college come to when students are being coaxed into taking an aids test? And why would a health class be MANDATORY for all incoming freshmen?

What’s next? When she takes Economics will she have to come up with a bailout plan for Wall Street?

Change My Grandson Can Believe In

When I was growing up, my parents always told me I could be whatever I wanted. I always believed that inspite of living in a nation where the color of your skin plays more of a factor in your success than your knowledge and education.

I have passed on that same message to my daughter who, in spite of being a teenage mom, is striving to beat the odds by pursuing her college education in order to live out her goals and aspirations.

As a 51-year-old baby boomer, I never thought I would live to witness the events of November 4, 2008. That is the day the majority of America voted to elect the first African-American man as President of the United States. So now when I tell my grandson, who is as smart as a pistol and already wooing people with his charm and personality, that he can be anything he wants---I will say it with conviction. YES, HE CAN!

Thank you President-Elect Barack Obama and 51 percent of the American voters who gave my grandson the change he can believe in!

House Rules are House Rules

Last Friday my college daughter came home for her Fall Break. During her four-day stay, she stepped back into the role of mommy again to her two-year-old son Jarod--giving me a much needed break. She also went to work at her Burger King job. Burger King keeps her as an active employee and welcomes her back anytime she comes home for an extended period.

THANK YOU BURGER KING!

But also during the course of her stay, my daughter got the idea that the same rules that applied when she was living under my roof were now null and void. For her, that meant didn't have to adhere to a curfew. After all, she's a college student--living away from home and can stay out as long as she wants. As she told me, "I can stay out all night if I want."

Funny, I told my mother that same thing when I was in college--and guess what? I told my daughter the SAME thing my mother told me: "As long as you are technically still under my roof, you're going to have to live by the house rules. That means you will be home by a certain time." (Instead of the 11pm curfew, I did extend it to 1am).

I did let her know there was an escape clause.

"You can take over the mortgage and the other bills and have free reign. No problem!"

Parents, Help Me Raise My Grandchild

This is an urgent plea to parents everywhere. I really need your help in raising my grandson.

I have been spending the last year of Jarod’s two-year-old life teaching him manners and respect. He knows to say “Thank you” when you give him something or do something nice for him. He is learning how to say “Yes ma’am/No sir” as a show of respect for his elders. He gives generous hugs to family members and his daycare friends and will even try to console you if he senses you are sad. He can even say “excuse me” if he bumps you accidentally or walks in front of you.

But the problem is he is being raised in a world where children seem to have NO CONCEPT of what morals, values, respect and manners mean. What’s even worse is adults seem to be clueless as well. Case in point: Yesterday, we went to the Post Office. Jarod was trying to hold the heavy door open for a lady who was coming out. Instead of acknowledging his effort, the woman seemed annoyed and forcibly pushed the door open and hurried past us. I said “thank you” to my grandson because I wanted him to know his efforts were appreciated.

I have seen children totally out of control and disrespectful in front of their parents and I am always baffled that the child isn’t jacked up and given a beat down. I’m not talking about teenagers either. I’m talking about those three-to-eight-year-olds who, obviously, were never taught proper behavior.

Parents, the world is counting on you to bring up the next generation of responsible and respectable adults. But how will your children learn how to act and survive if you haven’t given them the tools necessary? How can they differentiate between good and bad behavior if all they ever see if a loud, foul-mouthed parent who is always right, never listens and dares anyone to chastise their child for wrong behavior?

Do your part. Raise your child so my job will be a little easier.