Both of my girls, ages 18 and 16, have accounts on myspace.com. They know what to watch out for but I wonder about younger kids who are probably more vulnerable. Even so, the perverts can't just reach through the computer and grab the kids --- the kids have to agree to meet the jerk somewhere. When that happens, I wonder where the parents have been. My daughters know that I check-out their sites once and awhile. I tell them that if the millions of people who are on myspace can read what they post than so can I!

Misfire, with all the information some of the kids give, the perverts sould probably do a sneak visit and appear next to them at the mall, a game, school, or work.

I joined myspace to keep on eye on my adult kids. My youngest is 13 and when he turns 14, I will let him join myspace but here's the catch - under my supervision! No cutie pie names, very litle personal info. He has Aspergers, which is part of Autism Spectrum Disorder and has great difficulty making friends. I don't think there's anything wrong with the site itself, I think parents need to supervise their kids more! 3 high schoolers were recently arrested in a neighboring town, for post child porn. 2 of the girls posed naked in sexually suggestive poses and the 3rd was arrested for taking the pix. Where are the parents? Of course they could be dingbats like my mother. In Junior High (jeez, remember when they called it that?) there was a math teacher who just loved to help any girl with big breasts at her seat. He would lean over in such a way he would elbow our boobs. I remember hanging over the side of my chair so he couldn't touch me. My sister and I told our mother what was going on and she told us to keep our mouths shut, not to tell our father because "he will kill the teacher and go to jail and who will support us?"
Yup, the joys of a dysfunctional childhood. I just think parents need to pay more attention to what their kids are doing.
Someone mentioned Natalie Holloway and Aruba. My heart goes out to the mom, believe me. BUT, why let an innocent inexperienced kid go to a foreign country that allows 18 yr olds to drink with very little supervision from the chaperones? Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me, no matter how trustworthy your child is, they are vulnerable and no matter how hard it is, sometimes you just have to say no, it's for your own good!

have a happy day!
Susan

Hey, Mother Mystic! I never formally welcomed you, so Welcome!! I'm going to check out your myspace. My kids still accuse me of being a hippie!

Amen to that Mystic Mother. I watched my two sons like a mother hawk, sure they complained but too dam bad and now I get thank yous because they now watch their own kids the same way and understand the dangers....

Thanks for the welcome Bluebird. Yup, I'm a tie dyed in the wool hippie, no matter how much I've tried to evolve, it just ain't happening.

I know what you mean Chatty Lady. One of my sons used to joke that if he tried to go mountain climbing, he knows at some point a helicopter would appear over his shoulder with me shouting thru a megaphone "Get down from there!" I just say, "That's my job! I'm here to teach and protect you, and you don't have to like it. But you have to respect me."

I remember a woman at my baby shower saying with a sad face, "you're in for a lifetime of worry". I thought she was being mean at the time, but boy was she right!

peace & happiness,
Susan

Great idea to join myspace to keep an eye on the kids. A letter came from my daughter's school advising paretns to do the same.

I have two friends who have children with Asbergers that live locally.

That's also how I got started on it, too. I was trying to see what my 18 year old was up to because he tells me nothing!! Then I saw it was a good way to connect with other people, catch up with old friends and post pictures.

I use the myspace blog as a rant space - it helps to get a lot of grief out and hopefully someone out there can connect with my experiences. I've met a few people online, no one in person yet but I'm hopeful I might find a true friend or two.

Asperger's shares a lot of characteristics with Indigo children which I've seen posted elsewhere on this form. Probably the most difficult part is trying to establish a close relationship with a child who states emphatically he'd rather be alone. It's hard to imagine wanting to be that alone. I will always keep trying tho. Never give up hope, that's one of my credos.

Susan

Mystic, do you have a support group for you and/or your son? I think it would be helpful especially for the children to know they are not alone.