Lizz Welter

Lizz Welter

Lizz Welter is mother to two beautiful daughters and one handsome son. She has lived in Ohio, Arkansas, and Kansas... but she adores Kansas City and can't imagine raising her family anyplace else. Lizz enjoys exercise, reading, cooking, blogging, and she's a leader in her local MOPS group.

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A Status Update Just Isn't the Same

by: Lizz Welter

published on: 10/14/2009 12:00:00 AM

     I think most people already know this, but I'll feel much better if I just put it out there...Facebook status updates are not the same thing as personally talking with someone!

     Okay, I feel better. Surely I'm not the only one who has found herself in the middle of a conversation where the other person assumes I know what she is talking about. He or she assumes this because the person posted a status update sometime last Thursday and didn't I see it? Um, maybe or maybe not.

     I can't help but think of how all of the technology in our world changes the way we have to teach (and model) social skills to our children. After all, they need to know that while things like texting aren't bad, they also aren't exactly the same as visiting a person or picking up the phone and making a call to check on someone.

     Please don't misunderstand me. I'm a big fan of things like Facebook. However, I do wonder what communication will look like once my children are adults. Will I ever hear their voices or will phone calls home be obsolete. Of course, I'll do my best to teach them social skills, but I must admit that it sometimes seems the odds are against me. If you've ever been out to dinner with someone who keeps pulling out her phone to text someone, then you know what I mean.

     What do you think? Do you believe various communication options make it more difficult to teach kids social skills?

tagged with: Texting Parenting

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Comments  3

  • Annie 14 Oct, 07:01 AM

    I could relate to this one! As a teacher, cell phones, iPods and technology are constantly disrupting the classroom and even though they are banned in class, students are always trying to smuggle them in. When they aren't actively using them, they're in arguments over something someone wrote, texted, etc. Teens today find out they are no longer dating someone because their friends inform them that their boyfriend/girlfriend updated their Facebook status to "single!" No one stops to think about their actions, it's just "type and click."

  • Terri McCoy 15 Oct, 10:59 PM

    I know what you mean.I'm sure one day soon regular telephones are going to be a thing of the past too,just like when they updated to the new HDTV's,and for people that couldn't afford HDTV's like me that had to resort to buying a converter box just to have reception.And just like these kids that have cell phones who think they have to text each other when there just right across the room from each other is rediculous if you ask me.I think it would be easier to just go up and talk to the person that is in the same room as you are.Furthermore I think it would be alot faster to make a phonecall then to be spending time texting someone.Playstations and Xboxes aggravate me to,because kids nowadays have forgotten what it's like to play outdoors,or how to use there imagination playing.I have noticed to, where kids in school are allowed to use calculators,and I know when I was growing up and going to school that wasn't allowed.And kids that are in college nowadays,it seems like pencil and paper has become a thing of the past,now everything you do and write is on a computer,and unless you have computer skills,or own a computer or have access to one,your out of luck.I feel for this new generation that is comming up.

  • Maggie 18 Oct, 07:54 AM

    I think everyone should make a conscience effort to pick up the phone every day and call someone....a voice is much more appreciated than a quick note on email or facebook.  I had a friend tell me the other day how much she appreciated me calling her that day.  She said... "it doesn't have to be a long conversation, just a quick call...I like taking with you instead of just emailing back and forth."  I hadn't really thought about it....but she is right, and I am trying to be better at calling.  Also, a hand written note is great.  How nice to go get your mail and find a note from a friend in among all the bills!  A hand written note, for no reason at all, will always be a winner!
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