Naptime Blog

When I was my daughter’s age, there was no such thing as cell phones, Blackberries, I-Phones…  We used Encyclopedias to find out information on any given topic.  We had the telephone book to find a home or business phone number, all landline phones.   We did not own a computer until I was in my early teens, and the first time I used the internet was on dial-up (gasp!), but didn’t know it was so slow because I had nothing to compare it to.  My daughter is amazed that growing up there were no cell phones, no Wi-Fi and internet connections, no technologically advanced means of interacting.

After I finished my homework each day, I actually went outside, walked a few doors down and rang a friend’s doorbell to see if she was done with her homework yet so we could play.  We chatted for hours, but in person.  We played and made up games and had fun. 

Kids today have fun, but quite differently than we did.  Although I am not quite certain I am convinced it is as healthy as going out in the fresh air and “running bases” for three hours with your friends face to face (friends that my parents knew and their parents knew me), but we have to make the best of what we have, right?  My husband and I keep up with much of the latest in technology whenever we can (although I do not own anything Blue Ray yet!) and intend to keep my children up with the latest in technology as well.

I recently reviewed a copy of Read Between the Lines: A Humorous Guide to Texting with Simplicity and Style by Shawn Marie Edgington – www.rbtlguide.com .  Although I consider myself up on all the acronyms and shortcuts to text messaging, I was curious what I still had to learn.  The book is an adorable guide, geared for women, moms like me, who want to keep up with today’s technology and stay in contact with the world. 

For me personally, I have a Blackberry and BBM (use my Blackberry Instant Messenger) more than texting, but the same rules pretty much apply.  Actually, the BBM allows me to carry on a conversation by text with those in my BBM list.  The only drawback is that I can only chat with those who have a Blackberry.

Shawn Marie lists a whole dictionary of acronyms that are used in texting.  I will certainly be going back into the book in my “travels” with not only texting, but with using Twitter, Facebook, my BBM, and other social networking sites and tools.  This shorthand guide is very helpful.  Shawn Marie also talks about other ways in which texting is making its “debut”…  how parents can use it to their advantage with their teens (Generation Text) instead of it being the enemy… how high school and college teachers/professors can use texting to engage the students more in class and in doing homework/projects…  how businesses, politicians, corporations, doctors offices, the older population, just about EVERYONE can jump in the technology bandwagon and start texting.

For me, I am already using these social media tools, and enjoyed the book as it clarified some things and gave me a great little guide.  For anyone who wants to get themselves into all the current technological advances but are afraid to test the waters, this book is a great place to start.

I can’t even imagine what technology will offer by the time my daughter is MY age!

Jennifer
Wife to Paul, Mom to Juliana (7), Anthony and Louis (1) and Joseph (4 months)www.nevaland.com