Wednesday, 31 October 2012
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Oops, She Did It Again
No, not Britney Spears. My daughter. The 9 year old.I recently blogged about how she's been sneaking behind my back and texting random people. You can read it here. I didn't go into detail there, but she was joining 'communities' within the TextPlus app. From those communities, she was making "friends" and texting them. I told her that I did not want to see that again, or else she would no longer have her iPod.
Last night, due to misbehaving at a restaurant, she is grounded from her iPod for today. You can read that one here. Well, imagine my surprise as I look through her TextPlus app to make sure she has been following my rules. I laughed a bit as I told Ange that she had her signature as AMyBabysittersAVampireFan. Well, at least, that's what I thought it was. In fact, she had recently changed it to "The name's S----". I have already warned her about telling people her name. Part of her user name on that app is SYD. Yes, those are her initials, but for all anyone knows, her name could have been Sydney. There was no need for a signature like that. I went in the settings and turned the signature line off. We would be discussing this.
But hold on. That's not the worst of it! She's been texting someone else!!! No idea who she is, if she really is a she. For all we know, it could be a grown man, preying on innocent children. Or, not so innocent children. We just don't know, and we can't be too careful. I did message the girl and said "Who are you?" No response yet.
But hold on still. That is STILL not the worst! Are you ready for this one? She's been texting her friend from down the street. They're the same age, and in the same class. This is the message between the two of them that I found:
S: If you are coming now, tell my mom that we are gonna study and when we are done, we will hang out
L: ok. Be there in a sec.
S: Kay, and bring your home work so mom thinks it's believe able and bring your words. I forgot mine.Looks like I have a new iPod. Anyone know of any good music??
Oh, and before I forget, I changed her signature line. It now reads "ImInTrouble4Lying2MyMom". Yes, I really did that. Ask Ange.
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About the Author
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- From: Italianmama32103@xanga
- Name: Italianmama32103
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- About Me: SAHM of 3 (semi)wonderful kids
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Comments (19)
Yes, she really did that and I really laughed loudly when she did. You handled it right, you know that. Good job, Mom.
wowzers...kids and technology scare me. my 2yr old plays with my iPod but I have secuirty settings on so she can't add/remove anything..and she can't go online/fb
i think you handled it fantastically..
Ha, good one with changing the signature!
This is what scares me about having kids. I know when I got internet at home (about...twelve years ago), I went behind my parents back and used chat rooms and got around their security software to get onto sites like MySpace. I was smart enough not to use my real name and I never gave out my number, but knowing I did it means I know my kids will try it too. But, I think I had the advantage because I grew up with computers whereas I had to teach my parents how to turn on a PC - I'm hoping I'll know enough to know what they're doing.
Ha, I like what you did with her signature.
Oh my. I don't think I'd let my nine year old have access to that sort of thing. I had no idea that they could text/chat with strangers from an ipod, unless they were using it on the internet (like a chat room). I would have taken that thing the second she started texting random people. I wouldn't give it back til she's 18, haha.
@LondonsMommy - The only reason she has that app on her iPod is so that she can text us- her dad while he's at work if she wants, her grandmother, her grandfather, aunts and uncles. I have been looking and looking and looking to see if there's anything I can do to block things like that, but so far, nothing. I don't want to disable/delete it entirely because I think communication within family is important. We don't have a home phone, and my cell phone is having issues currently.
I honestly shouldn't be surprised. But I seriously did think that she wouldn't have gone behind my back after the first time I caught her. Or at least, I thought maybe she'd delete incriminating messages like that!!
@Italianmama32103@xanga - Can you block her access to the internet? I know you said she texts her dad at work, but i'm thinking at least for the other family part, then she could ask you to sign her into the internet? That way, you can monitor a little easier... just a thought!
PS: love the signature line :)
@PassionFruit06@xanga - I probably could, but then she wouldn't be able to do a lot of what she does. She's usually a really great kid. Which is why I was taken off guard that she did this. She's usually on YouTube watching Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Shake It Up Chicago, and other child-friendly music videos. I may look around and see if there's an app that will send all texts to me as well. Or any that have parental controls on it.
@Italianmama32103@xanga - is there any way to only let her text certain numbers? Like her family and her best friends or something? And so she has to ask you if she wants to text anyone else? It's worth looking onto :)
OMG! Today's kids terrify me! But imagine tomorrow's...
I would look into getting her something like a Kajeet cell phone for kids. They are made for kids, so there are a lot of parental controls you can change on it.
http://www.kajeet.com/4u/index.html
If she really needs to have a ipod, I would recommend getting something other than the touch because that is the only ipod that has access to the internet. Let her watch her youtube videos on your at home computer, that way you can monitor what web sites she is using.
You did the right thing by taking it from her. It seems like she has a bit of a rebellious streak if she's already starting to lie about going to friend's houses and talking to complete strangers even after you've told her not to. I don't have a 9 year old yet but I'm wondering if maybe she is reaching out to others for a reason besides just for the hell of it. Or maybe that's normal behavior for a nine year old and I should start preparing myself.
A little shocked that a a 9 year old would have access to this. Was there a particular need for this? You did the right thing, but I'm looking around the corner, wondering if you're gonna cave in at some point.
@daydreams_nightmares@xanga - I spent about an hour earlier today looking through EVERYTHING on that stupid app. There are no controls what-so-ever, and that really irritates me. There HAS to be something that will allow me to control what she can and can't do. UGH I think I may just keep the iPod and let her 'borrow' it from me occasionally.
I read in the comments that there is no controls for the app she was using, and I can't believe the creators didn't put some sort of parental control option in it! How stupid! Yeah, pretty sure my daughter wouldn't ever get the ipod back if she was doing that sort of thing.
@Italianmama32103@xanga - seriously (in my opinion) sell it and buy her one with no internet. When I was 9 I didn't have a cell phone, 9 year olds shouldn't be anywhere unsupervised and if they're with an adult they should be able to use a phone she doesn't need to text. :/ Once again my opinon
@Italianmama32103@xanga - there is a app for just texting numbers you know! im pulling it up on my ipod right now. I used to use it when my parents wouldnt put texting on my phone lol (and i was 16 so you know i had to find something!) its called Textfree. totally safe and you can only text numbers you already know and you make your own phone number :) maybe that will help a bit!!
you can send emails from ipod touches, too. can you take the texting app off and restrict her to just email usage?
Ugh. I am NOT looking forward to what my boys have in store for me and their father. -___- Although I have some time (they're only just under 16 months and 1 month), I can remember IMing, chat rooms, etc. when I was young. Sometimes with friends and other times with complete strangers. & Although I don't have girls, I'll be just as -- if not MORE -- protective of them. Smh! Damn kids...
By the way, good solution. I was disappointed when my second wasn't a girl, but I've become quite grateful when I think of how your children tend to make up for the things you did to your parents.