Parenting Survival Tips

New Site for Networking Parents - TBD.com - The mid-life MySpace

The mid-life MySpace: TBD

Recently I have been using an application on Facebook called "workin' it" to network with family and friends, but I just came across this new site TBD.com which is considered to be the "Facebook for Grown-ups".  Mark Miller wrote an interesting article in the Chicago Times today and I would welcome your comments. The mid-life MySpace: TBD

Robin Wolaner, founder of Parenting Magazine, recently launched a new website, TBD.com (to be determined), a reference to Wolaner's belief that boomers are embarking on new adventures in life. TeeBeeDee is a place where they can do what she calls "purposeful networking" -- comparing notes, getting ideas and inspiration.

TeeBeeDee joins a growing field of interactive ventures appealing to people who want to network online, but are just a bit older than the typical Facebook or MySpace user.

Other boomer-oriented social networks include Boomj, Boomertown, Rezoom and Gather. And AARP -- the granddaddy of 50+ media -- is getting ready to add social networking early next year as part of a redesign of its Web site.

There's no doubt boomers are online in huge numbers. Sixty-five percent of Americans age 50-to-64 are online, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, and the percentages are higher among boomers under 60. But, will boomers take to social networking in the same way their kids have bought into Facebook and MySpace?

"The most compelling reason that young people use these sites is to hook up," says Susan Ayers Walker, who writes about computers and technology for AARP's Web site. "Older people already have their social networks set, so what is the compelling reason they will use sites like this?"

How about ... hooking up?

There are plenty of sites available for "hooking up" and plenty of sites out there for parental advice but what where do you find the parental social groups online that are facing the same issues you might be with raising boys, getting homework done, or managing your teenager?

If you are a boomer or getting close, I would love to hear your thoughts on what parental social networking sites you find helpful as a and what do you primarily use these sites for?

I look forward to hearing from you!

Julie
aka: Online Mom

Famster: Family Social Networks - Fad or Future?

Hi Parents,

I am in the process of adding a family resource section to my blog and I thought there is no better way to kick it off than with a discussion on secure family social networks, such as www.famster.com.

Famster is an award winning social network site catering to families.  The main difference between Famster and other social networking sites, like MySpace or Facebook, is that it is secure and password protected. It also offers a host of user friendly features, such as photo share, blogging, scrapbooking, photo albums, address book, email, calendar, recipes, streaming video, family tree, RSS news feeds and more. It also differs from the major social networks in that there is a monthly subscription fee of $9.95 per family domain while most public social networking sites offer a free subscription.

With the invasion of sex offenders mulling through the public social networking sites, this new niche of secure social networks may have a following. Currently hundreds of thousand of families see the value of this type of service but is it here to stay?

Famster is partnering with socially responsible sites such as Common Sense Media, Plugged in Parent, Baby Center, and Snapshots of Heaven. I would love to hear from you if you have a Famster profile or thoughts on the viability of this type of family networking service or suggestions on how we can allow our children to safely engage online.

Julie
aka: Concerned Mom

Homework vs. Competitive Game Commitments?

Hi Parents,

There was a little controversial debate going on in our community this past weekend and I would love to get other parent's insights on this topic.

My older son is on a competitive soccer team in which all the kids were hand selected to be one of the twelve on this team. Last weekend we had an out of town soccer tournament (2 hours away) with 2 games on Saturday and depending on how well they performed, more games on Sunday.

Our team was doing well and had an opportunity depending on how the first game on Sunday went to be in the play-offs on Sunday afternoon. One parent took her son home on Saturday night after the games and then Sunday morning decided not to bring her son back for the Sunday games because he did not finish all of his homework on Saturday night after they got home.

Questions the parents debated were:

1. Did this parent's decision cost the team the opportunity to be in the play-offs and is that fair to the rest of the team members?

2. Is homework more important that teaching our children commitment and responsibility when they sign up for a team sport?

3. Do you have other ideas on how to find a compromise so that a child can get their homework done and still support their team commitments?

I would love to hear your parenting thoughts on this never-ending age old debate of homework vs. team commitments.

Julie
aka: Soccer Mom

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