Our world as far as pictures and documenting our kids' lives is so different from what it used to be. Years ago, you had photographs and film that was an ordeal to show. I guess our impatience started with the Polaroid camera. We got our pictures instantly and didn't have to wait on them. Now, it is a whole different ball game. Pictures are everywhere and we can retouch, crop, and do anything we want to with them. Who would have ever thought, for one we could carry a phone around, but to also be able to use that mobile phone as a camera too.
With our modern conveniences comes a few cons. We are able to keep family members that live away from us connected through email, facebook, and other ways of immediately sending them videos and pictures. BUT, we don't always know who is also looking at our pictures. I have always admitted to being an overprotective parent. I don't know how you can be any other way. I keep a close eye on my kids and depend on family and those in my community to help me keep them safe.
We don't want to be prisoners in our home and not be able to go out and put pictures where we want to. When I started my first blog, I wasn't sure about putting pictures and up and didn't for a while. I was even more hesitant about pictures of my nieces and nephews because they are younger. But, with all the ways of documenting our every move, a picture can be taken, posted, and spread around without us ever knowing it. I look around at the mall sometimes when we are all there with our kids and wonder if there is some creep watching our little ones and taking pictures. We are in a completely different world and it can be more than scary.
I don't want to expose my kids or nieces and nephews, but I love talking about them. My blog is hopefully going to be a record of them and parts of their life. I am stubborn enough not to want to give that up. However, I also want to keep them safe.
What is your opinion on this? Better yet, can you share some websites and ways to help us all keep our kids safe. Although we have to worry about our neighbors, we also have to worry about people miles and miles away. Our internet has made us all neighbors with one another and we need to look at it in that way.
I found http://www.tineye.com/ to see if your pictures are used anywhere other than where you have them. This link is from the FBI and it is a great source of information. Surfnetkids is a recent source for keeping kids safe on facebook, especially with their photos.
Do you have any helpful sites or tips? Please share them. I am interested and we can't ever do enough to keep our kids, and ourselves, safe.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Monday, September 5, 2011
Christmas Gift Ideas for Kids (Coupons Too!)
It is so hard to think about Christmas while we are still having hot weather in Georgia, but it will be here before we know it! I am already looking at gift ideas. I have ordered from
several times for my boys and have been happy with my online orders.
Here are a few coupons:
Save 3% at HobbyTron.com using coupon code: SAVE3D (Except Lego Mindstorms, Savage 25, T-Maxx, Revo, Jato)
Save 5% at HobbyTron.com on 3 or more items. Coupon code: SAVE5D (Except Lego Mindstorms, Savage 25, T-Maxx, Revo, Jato)
Save 5% on all Magic Tricks and Magic Supplies at HobbyTron.com using coupon code: MAGIC
Save 5% on all Science projects, kits and accessories at HobbyTron.com using coupon code: SCIENCE
This is a great website too.
I like that they have different categories like Father and Son, Mommy and Me, and even a Grandparents page. They also have a few items for girls.
Gas Scooters and electric scooters blowout sale is now in effect.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
WINNERS!!!!! Congratulations!
Thank you so much to everyone who entered and commented. I love reading your comments and suggestions. They are very helpful. I used Random.org and the drawing is # 7393. It is entry accessible. I used either your name or name of blog if there were similarities. I kept numbers out of it and added an a,b,c, etc. to the end of your name for those of you with multiple entries. I can give you the way your name is entered if you don't see it. I am new to giveaways and random.org and try to keep the entries as simple as I can so it will be as fair as possible.
WINNERS:
$30 Visa Card: Kia89
Smokey and Rose Quartz Necklace: Donald vtarcher
Red, White and Blue Bracelet: Tatertot374
America Bracelet: Susan1215
Congratulations to all of you and I will be emailing you for mailing addresses.
I am going to host another giveaway, but I am going to enjoy a couple of carefree days with my kids! We have had a lot going on and I am ready to just kick back with them. We also have my niece's birthday party this weekend. I am going to post the next giveaway soon and I will be working on updates to the blog. If you haven't looked at my other blogs and have a minute, do so. The Lollipop Fence is for my jewelry and that online shop is in the process of being opened. I hope to have it ready by next week. Also, if you want to see why I talk about my kids, nieces, and nephews so much, look at my other blog The Sisterhood of Spiritual Single Moms. Please continue to give me feedback for this blog, I use all the comments and suggestions I get! Someone suggested a recipe page and I am working on that too! Thanks everybody and I hope all of you have a blessed, safe, great holiday weekend!!!!!
Friday, September 2, 2011
Little Angels
I talk about my kids and nieces and nephews all the time on my other blog. They are so sweet, innocent, and pure. All kids are. When I saw my sister's babies come into this world I was amazed. We all look at a baby and child and just see wholesomeness. It is so hard to lose anyone we love, but when it is a child, I can't imagine the pain a parent feels and I hope and pray I never experience it. When my grandmother passed away, my great grandmother (her mother) told me, "I am old, I have lost parents, siblings, friends, (she lost her husband three weeks after my grandmother) and even my husband. But, you can't lose a child. To outlive my child is just not natural."
Even when you have seen your child live a full life it is just so hard. But, when a child is taken away before they even have a chance to grow up it is so hard to understand. We have lost two children in our community and school this week. This is when a community that is family is wonderful. The parents need all the comfort they can get. The best comfort they can get is through God and any way we can help them keep that in their mind is the best we can do for them. I found this poem and thought it was a little comfort for such a painful situation.
I put this on this blog too just in case it reaches out to some of you and brings someone comfort.
Little Angels
When God calls little children
to dwell with Him above.
We mortals sometimes question
the wisdom of His love.
for no heartache compares with
the death of one small child,
who does so much to make our world
seem wonderful and mild.
Perhaps God tires of calling
the aged to His fold.
So He picks a rosebud
before it can grow old.
God knows how much we need them
and so He takes but few,
to make the land of Heaven
more beautiful to view.
Believing this is difficult
still somehow we must try.
The saddest word mankind know
will always be "Goodbye".
So when a child departs
we who are left behind,
must realize God loves children,
Angels are hard to find.
~Author Unknown
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)