Internet safety

I had to tackle the the issue of internet safety the other day.  I thought I was quite good at this one, after all I have an email address, a facebook account, twitter and instagram,  I write a blog, do online shopping and can generally utilise social networks quite efficiently.

Bubble came home and informed me that on the parents area of the school website there is something about internet safety that I should have a look at.  At the time I was multi-tasking to the nth degree.  Supervising one lot of homework in one room about the River Ganges, another lot at the kitchen table about acids and alkalis, You-tubing songs with the words River in it for Squeaks project, making tea, and feeding the dog. I did not feel up to doing anything else involving school.  The conversation went something like this:

40something:  "Internet safety - ok mate, have you got a Facebook account?"
Bubble:  "You know I haven't mumsy -  I can't stand it"
40something: "Twitter? or Instagram?"
Bubble:  "No ......and you only have instagram cos Squeak nagged and nagged to have an account cos she wants to see what 1D are doing and YOU wanted to keep an eye on what she was doing."
40something:  "Ok - on your Playstation, do you interact and talk to people you don't know?"
Bubble: "NO!"
40something: "Have you watched any naughty things on youtube?"
Bubble: "NO - and anyway you can't watch naughty things on youtube they remove them!  You have to access other sites for that!"
40something:  "Ok what about stuff with extreme violence?"
Bubble:  "Well considering you and I watched the whole series of Lost and Van Helsing over the last few weeks that's a bit debatable!"
40something:  "Fair point - it's just studies show that kids who have prolonged access to violent video games become desensitised so we need to watch out for that."

Bubble then informs me that he knows violence is a bad thing, I tell him enough times and I am probably bonkers for having this conversation with him in the first place.  I point out not unreasonably that it was him who brought the subject up in the first place!

Later on that evening, I decided to keep my son company at the kitchen table while he completed yet another piece of work.  Trawling through my phone I decided to access my Instagram account, which I take no notice of, rarely use and only bother with to keep a check on my daughters account.  I discovered I have loads of new followers!  They are all school kids!  I did not know about this - but I do now! It was a bit embarrassing to ask my son who all these people were, all of whom he knew and I did not!

I huffed and puffed a bit about kids and technology today, then it got better!  I checked my Twitter account......

I had all sorts of  people following me from all over the world and apparently I am following loads of people as well!  Clicking on some of the profiles I was flabbergasted - why on earth would I be interested in following some guy who lives thousands of miles away and whose sole purpose in life is to spread the word about Jesus through the world wide web!  I then have apoplexy over some random bloke from Korea whose pictures have all sorts of naughty ladies on it!

Jeepers - I chose the name for my blog site and twitter page as 40somethingbitch not because I am particularly bitchy, or because I wanted to be controversial but because it describes me.  I am 40 something, and I do occasionally want to moan about the world. A quick google search reveals however an awful lot of "40something" sites have lewd and licentious content!

Bubble has helpfully pointed out that the internet safety video is still available on the school website if I need any help!

Thanks for reading

A breakdown in communication!

As we settle down into a new term at school, the changes at 40something towers are small but noticeable. Homework is a regular thing, PE kits have to be ready, meals require military planning,   I have to be more organised, more efficient, more on the ball than ever before and bunking off because I don't feel like it is not an option. Woe betide me if my precious darlings have not got everything they need. It's not their fault for forgetting, it's mine for not reminding them!

Bubble has started high school and has in the main settled into his big boy life quite well.  Squeak continues sailing through primary school and seems to be finally coming into her own now she does not stand in the shadow of her big brother.  She is gaining a quiet confidence and no longer creates havoc and pandemonium when her brother is around, separating them for a year or two will be a good thing I think.

Back in the day, High School was called Secondary School, you turned up, had lessons, ate chips and a sausage roll for dinner, and if you got in trouble you were sent to see the headmaster.  These days High school involves healthy lunches involving pizza or pasta in the restaurant, vertical tutor groups and a new creature to me called a Pastoral Manager.  "Pastorals" as they are known in school are not teachers or teaching assistants but professionals employed by the school to oversee the welfare of our precious darlings.  They deal with any trouble and strife, emotional turmoil, bullying or bad behaviour, handing out justice swiftly and seem to be generally a good idea.

To say that Bubble and I had a break down in communication the other week is like saying my delinquent dog will never again disgrace himself.

After being in school for a week he was late back one evening, sauntering in and throwing his bag on the kitchen table he said "sorry I am a bit late mum, I was kept back at school to see the pastoral person about the trouble last week"  (The previous week there had been some sort of fracas and whilst not directly involved in the trouble he had stepped in to try and break it up).

I asked a few questions about what was said and what happened.  Bubble told me he had had to make a statement and the pastoral manager had given him a warning.  He did not seem upset or troubled by this so I thought no more about it.  That is until I spoke to my friend on the phone that evening.  Telling her about my day I mentioned that Bubble had received a warning.   I was informed that getting a warning at high school is a very big deal.  You only get 3 and then you are out!  Off down the river, excluded, persona non gratis!

This put a different light on things and I started to fret that my little boy had got off to a bad start before anyone at High School knew him.  In fact so troubled was I over this revelation that I phoned the school first thing the next day.  Chatting away to Bubbles pastoral manager I explained that I knew what had happened and that he had been to see him, but that I was concerned. The poor guy must have thought he was dealing with a slightly insane and deranged parent when he told me that "NO my son was not in any kind of trouble, NO there was no disciplinary action to take as he was indeed not directly involved, and NO he had not received an official warning.  He had however warned him that in future he was not to sort it out himself but get a teacher!"

I came off the phone feeling very relieved and also a complete knob!

I then decided to tell Bubble what I done.  Waiting until he had settled down at the kitchen table with the dreaded homework,  I made my confession.  Bubble was quite indignant that I would interfere with what was obviously a matter that was already dealt with.  I explained my reasoning, about the 3 strikes and your out bit and enlightenment lit up in his eyes.  He burst out laughing  " Well I did not know that there are warnings and WARNINGS mumsy!"

My son rarely takes the world too seriously especially now he has taken to calling me mumsy!

Thanks for reading x