Every mom blogger who begins blogging with small children will some day reach this point where their kids start piecing together what they’re doing on the computer.
Someday we need to determine whether or not posting about the cute things they do or say will be okay with them. I’ve already begun filtering myself with my girls and don’t share too much personal information in regards to anything they might hate me for later, but it’s a line in the sand I often need to reevaluate.
Recently I showed Maile exactly how Twitter works. How cool it is that I can talk out at the world and that real people actually respond. I let her test it out. “So…you have friends in the inTernet who talk to you??”
She always places emphasis on the letter T in the word internet. Like an old lady who’s just now trying to grasp what it is the young kids are doing these days.
“When you make videos for YouTube are those going to the inTernet? And can people see them?”
Yes.
I could see things clicking into place in her brain. She was so pleased with the responses she got on Twitter…I know she understands the draw to interact there now.
“When you write stories and put them in the inTernet do these people read them?”
Yes.
I saw her brain reaching back to remember some of the posts I thought were cute over the course of the last four years. She looked apprehensive…like this thing could be potentially very cool, but Mom what the hell have you been telling them? Kind of thing.
Naturally I don’t think she’ll find anything there offensive because they’re mostly cute toddler stories and by the time she’s old enough to read them all she’ll see them as cute and not as embarrassing. I hope.
Last weekend while we endured a day of Hell at the airport I shared this photo of Maile and Laina sleeping in the back of a Taxi on Instagram and Twitter:
I was simply sharing how exhausted (and cute) they were. “Look how cute this is”, I said to her, “you guys were SO tired in the car, isn’t it funny the way you’re both laying on each other?”
She carefully considered the picture.
“Did you share this with your friends on the InTernet?” she asked thoughtfully.
“Yes, isn’t it cute?” I said.
“I’m going to take a picture of your butt and put it on the inTernet” she said quietly.
My butt??
On the InTernet!?! I was both surprised and entertained by her promise. And also a little fearful because I know just how easily she could make that happen.
She’s not a baby anymore. I see a photo of two adorable little girls enduring a long day of traveling, but she sees messy hair, bad posture and a crumpled shirt.
Clearly it’s time to reevaluate where my line in the sand is drawn.
Brittany says
The funny thing is that this is turned around for me! lol My mom has actually asked me if I’ve shared a picture of her butt on the internet. I haven’t, of course. But, here’s to you finding the perfect place to draw your line in the sand. :)
Galit Breen says
Kat, I’ve been thinking about this a lot, too.
Although I’ve never considered the possibilities of butt retaliations! :)
Arnebya @whatnowandwhy says
My middle girl Googled everyone in the family Monday night. She kept misspelling my name so there weren’t any matches. It’s only a matter of time. They know about the blog, but they haven’t read it (that I know of. I’m pretty sure if the oldest had, she’d be unable to contain the bad words she’d read (because of course Mommy never cusses. Out loud)).
Marie says
SO funny! Thanks for the morning chuckle!
Jennifer says
Oh yes. My Big Girl definitely gets that these photos are going out for other people to see. Sometimes she will ask me to take one, but other times she flat out tells me, “Do not post that on Facebook.” (which to her is the entire internet, mostly)
JDaniel4's Mom says
I try to be careful which parts of my son’s life I share, but I know the days is coming when he asks to be left out of posts.
Jenn [ Crippled Girl ] says
At least you only have a few more years before the line in the sand is pointless. She’ll be a teenager and everything you do will be embarrassing to her. So then you can go back to posting whatever you want. :P
Joanne says
That is funny! My 7 year old daughter gets sooo angry with me when I laugh at something she says that I think is cute. Sometimes I really have to hold back because she sees it as making fun.
Andrea says
One of the first things someone told me about my blog is that “your kids will be reading it for the rest of their lives.” This was an eye-opener for me, and I’ve had to edit myself where they are concerned. Also, I wish I would have started sooner, because they did more inTernet worthy things when they were younger.
Jen says
I fear this day but it’s a bit different with boys. See, they will show me their butts and ask me to put it on my website.
HeatherB says
Awesome and funny way to remind us that our kids do grow up and become aware of what we are doing! If we see any pictures of your butt, we know who to blame!
Amy says
I SO think about that all the time! Poor kid! I blog about her poopy pants! She’s gonna kill me one day!
Nancy Davis Kho says
I started blogging when my kids were already inTernet savvy, so I never had any cover. I just deal with it directly – if it concerns them, I ask them to read it first, and give them veto power. It rarely gets exercised – if anything, the younger kid is pissed I don’t write about her MORE – but if it does, I respect it. A good relationship with them is worth it.
That said, one of my BEST EVER posts sits festering in a folder because it was vetoed. I am just waiting out the sensitivity.
Anna says
Mine already ask too….”is that going on Facebook?” or tell me “that better not be on Facebook”.
Glad my mom didn’t have the internet when I was growing up!
Twisted Domestic Goddess says
My kiddos are still pretty good about me blogging on what goes on.They’re a bit older than your kiddos and there are still times I censor what I put on but for the most part when something happens I hear,”You’re gonna blog that huh?”
A couple weeks ago my boyfriend did something where he stuck his foot in his mouth and he immediately said,”DO NOT blog this!” I thought it was hilarious but I obliged then the following week once of your topics to write on was a time you stuck your foot in your mouth…it took so much self control NOT to blog that!
Mimzy Wimzy says
I proudly tell my 18 year old son when I post photos or stories of/about him on my personal Facebook page! He just tells me he hates me & moves on.
It is his own fault. He makes it too easy! Seriously? 18 years old, sucking his thumb, watching Caillou? Wouldn’t you post that photo too?? Naturally Hubby & all his friends call him out on it & make fun of him for it, ultimately, he enjoys it.
Mrs. Jen B says
Your butt? Genius. That’ll get any mama to start thinking twice.
Andrea says
Just share your own picture of your butt and she’ll have nothing to hold over you.
No? Too much – huh? Yeah. I thought so. ;)
Mine’s five and not fully getting what I do all the time, so I think I’m in the clear for the most part for now. This was a great share, Kat. I think when she sees this post she’ll appreciate you taking the time to evaluate your line in the bloggy world sand.
tracy@sellabitmum says
I totally would let my daughters post my butt on the inTernets if it meant I could keep talking about them. ;)
Bruna says
Ha ha, tread carefully Mama Kat or your butt might one day appear on Twitter for the whole world to see. I cracked up at her comment. Sounds like she gets her sense of humour from you :)))
Denise says
My kids are constantly telling me not to post a picture or story they don’t like. What’s with these kids and their opinions?
Laurie Fessler says
As long as you can veto the butt shot ( or better yet photo shop it if need be) go for it. I still write about my kids and they are 17 and 19. It’s what we moms HAVE. xo Laurie at Hibernationnow
susie says
Scary moment!
Marta says
I haven’t considered this and am going to ignore having read this until my kids are old enough to ask me about the inTernet.
Ignorance is bliss, right?
Ali says
Hand that kid a camera and call it a mother/daughter bonding moment.
Holly from 300 Pounds Down says
Oh man if you end up with your butt on the inTERnet just what will happen? I mean it could land you on the Ellen show right?? Something like that could totally help you get on Ellen . Just saying!
Lynnie says
I ALWAYS show the three girlies my posts about them before I post them. Just wait till you have a 13 year old. It gets better.
Susan in the Boonies says
No, seriously, your daughter raises a GOOD point.
My daughter has told me a couple of times that she wants to blog, and I’ve been all encouraging and excited, but then I think:
what if she DID?
What might a 14 year old SAY about…you know…
ME?????????
OneMommy says
So true. At some point we all have to decide where that line is. Right now mine are both very young. I try not to share anything I think will embarass them, but, maybe my son declaring his butt doesn’t have a crack will make him cringe when he’s older and knows I shared it. And my daughter probably won’t like all the cute pics I’ve shared of her…
Your girls were pretty cute there, though. As a mom, I know just how sweet those tired and asleep in the car moments are.
ashley says
laughing right now.. thank you for that. now im scared my kids might do the same to me.
Mary says
Definitely something serious to consider. I cringe when I see other moms sharing things like “shopping for a training bra with _____,” on Facebook. Or worse. The photographer, Sally Mann, dealt with this very issue. She photographed her children up to a certain age and then they said no more. I’m sure she’s been interviewed about it or written about it. Good luck!
Jamie says
My 11 year-old constantly threatens…one day I’ll get my own blog. hmm.
mom taxi julie says
Oh I so know all about this. My oldest found my blog. So did her boyfriend (before he was her boyfriend, how weird is that, and now that they’ve broken up it’s just plain weird) and her friend. I’ve pretty much made my blog so anyone can read it without being pissed off at me but that’s taken most of the fun out of it ;) I think I need a second anonymous blog…