Parents,

Raising a son or daughter is not an easy task.  Our goal at Spring Creek Student Ministries is to come along side you and be a support for you as you are on this parenting journey.  Please let us know how we can better serve you.  We are here for you and will try to answer any questions you might have.

Below is a list of recommend resources to equip you in your vital role.   We are praying for you and for your son or daughter.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Mike Schneider at mikes@springcreekfellowship.com

Movie and Music info  www.pluggedinonline.com
Parenting helps            www.family.org
Family Devotionals      www.heartconnex.org
Internet filters              www.bsafehome.com

But Mom, You Were Spying!

Worried about what your teen is up to on MySpace or Facebook? These tips will help.

by Lindy Keffer
You're trying to be casual, but your teen isn't buying it. You've just asked her about a picture she posted on MySpace. (Where in the world did she get that bikini top?! You know you never bought anything that skimpy for her.) And now she's firing up the tornado siren: "Buuuuuut Mo-om! You're not supposed to be on MySpace. You're old! You just want to spy on me and ruin my life. You don't trust me!"
You want to actively guide your teen's Internet use, but how can you do so in a way that doesn't seem distrustful or interfering? In a word, it's all about communication.

Talk First, Browse Later

Rather than going to your teen's favorite social networking site, finding something disagreeable and then telling him you were looking at his profile, talk about it first. Let him know that a condition of his being allowed to use MySpace, Facebook or the next big thing to come along is that you have access to his page. The purpose of this conversation is not to negotiate, but to underscore the value you place on being upfront and honest.

Keep a Low Profile

Though social networking sites allow you to send messages to other users, that doesn't mean you have to use that feature. Keeping an eye on what your teen is posting is great. But unless the two of you have a very unique relationship, making comments his friends can see is probably a no-no. Public embarrassment doesn't do much for family communication.

Teach Teens to Think Like Stalkers

Teens create Web profiles to express themselves. They want to understand their own identities, and they want to tell others who they are. That's a normal part of growing up. But in cyberspace, it can be dangerous. So tour your teen's personal page with her and point out where she's posted details (often unthinkingly) that might pinpoint her specific identity and location to someone with less-than-noble intentions.
One wise aunt I know did this with her 15-year-old niece. The girl didn't think she had posted anything dangerous on MySpace. Then her aunt showed her how a picture of herself in her dance team t-shirt could enable someone to narrow her identity not only to a particular city and school, but to a group of a dozen students within the school. The girl was appropriately freaked out and removed the photo from her profile.
Thinking through safety issues with your teen may help her to appreciate — or at least tolerate — your online presence. Even better, it'll make her more likely to be careful with what she posts on her page.

The Bottom Line