Recently, and by recently I mean like yesterday I started going Facebook crazy and friend requesting people... thanks to Facebook suggesting every neighbor on my street because they are already friends with each other. If they choose to read this, thanks for accepting.
I joke that I am a Facebook addict. I am probably on there a little too much at times. It's not as bad as some people who always need to be connected, however I am on there a lot. There are good and bad about having a Facebook account. I get to be connected to those I love, that I don't get to see. I can message them, read about their day..... EVERY DAY! I have gotten in touch with people I thought I would never see again. I have made new friends. I have become better friends with people I only knew of or barely knew. I get to see the children of the people I grew up with grow up too. I get to read things and see posted memes that make me laugh.
I have read things about the negative effects of social media and have experienced a lot of those things too. If there is a tragic event on the news it is reported over and over from different sources; some not credible. People are cruel on the internet. They are behind a keyboard and can say whatever they want. Some people even spend their time making negative comment... on purpose. I try and try not to read too many comments on groups and pages in the Facebook world. I'm not always successful and often times something has ruined my day. I should know better. The worst was after Andrew's accident in 2010. I contacted 9news with his story for a "Hang Up and Drive" segment. Some of the comments people wrote on the video link were heartless and rude. That should have ended my comment reading.
Other times I have to remove myself from Facebook because many people tend to show the glamor and happy times of their lives. All their pictures are of the cool places they took their kids. Status updates are only about the good things, the date nights, the raises, their awesome weight loss... I'm not saying I want to see or read all your dirty laundry. I don't. It is just nice to know that you are human. It is nice to hear every once in a while that your child threw a fit, your dog peed in your shoe, or that you were not feeling well (followed by you are feeling better of course). It can go the other way too. If I read too many negative posts I start getting depressed. I feel sad that I can't help you. Also on that note if you have too many negative posts people will start to block you, hide your status and ignore you... keep that in mind. If you are seeking attention you will just make people run away. (Shawna steps off her soapbox now.)
Above I mentioned watching friends' children growing up. That is truly one of my favorite parts of social media. However on some days I also need to step away. Many of my friends on Facebook have children the same age as my children. I am going to be honest here, but don't let it stop you from sharing pictures and quips from your own children. I try not to compare my children to your children. I know each child is different. I know each child has their strengths and weaknesses; their good days and their not so good days. Some days it makes me more aware that my child is different than your child. My child is not doing the same thing as your child. I already knew that because for the most part he is not doing the same things his brother was doing 17 months ago. We can't always go out to fun places. We try. We don't want to hide and we are often busy.
I am also glad to have made connects with people who can relate. Our own children are not even thesame as each other... but we can relate, we listen, and even if we don't understand we are still understanding. I also am thankful I have other support from friends with children who don't have special needs. I will say that there are also other days I am grateful that Miles is not a typically developing child because there are some things that typical children do that I am glad Miles does not.
I try to be funny a lot of the time. Often times all I need to do is share something that Avery said as my status. Numerous times during a day he will say something worth posting. I usually spare you... but I should make a book of Averyisms.
I love to talk. I am like the drunk girl at a party... and I don't even drink. Just ask and I will usually spill the beans. People always think I am quiet and reserved..... ha ha! If I don't feel you are willing to listen then I am not going to say anything. I want to know that you are interested... unless you are my Facebook friend then it doesn't matter I share what I share. Don't like it? Hide my posts or unfriend me!
Ok, I better do something productive...
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