Kids

You know as a mom, I was always interested in what my kids were doing.
I volunteered at their schools.
I let them listen to "their" radio station in the car, so that I could hear "their" music.
I always got to know their friends and parents of their friends whenever possible.
I attended high school sports.
I went to concerts with them.
I watched their TV shows.
I read the books that they read.
I watched movies when they watched them.
I asked questions.
I did all those things that parenting newsletters, magazines and / or TV suggested on making sure that you knew as a parent what your children were doing.
...and...
I got on the computer when they got on.
I had them teach me about mySpace, IMing, Video cams, etc...

I do not know if I would have been on the computer as much as I was, unless I felt the need to monitor them...or lets face it...if I was not so lonely.
My son did not need that much monitoring...not that I didn't check, not that I did not find a few things, i.e. porn... but it all seemed normal or average or he just knew how to hide it well. However it was, he just did not seem to need that much monitoring.
My daughter on the other hand, needed a great deal of monitoring. She was into all the social sites, shopping, IMs etc. I often found questionable comments and pictures to friends, or various websites she was viewing.
...I truly felt like it was what I needed to do to be the proper parent...the good parent...

Once I was on the Internet more, I found my own interest and friends.
Some good friends...
and some not so good friends.
It was a whole new world for me.
One that I liked and enjoyed.
One that I found was interactive and would be interactive with me.
It was exciting.
It was fun.
I looked forward to it...

...and (of course) I found him...