The Benefits of Blogging: What's in It for Parents
"[Blogging] offers immediate feedback and validation, something many parents don't always get during the day," says Amy Nathan, who writes at Kvetch Blog. The instant feedback offered by blogging communities can be a source of comfort for parents.
It's also an instant network of experienced parents. "It used to be that you had to go buy a book or talk to a licensed specialist to get advice," says Amy Keroes, CEO of MommyTrack'd, a resource site geared toward working parents. "Now you can consult a whole world of experts-other parents-to get information and advice."
Both are definitely true for Marijean Jaggers, mother of a 17-year-old boy and a pre-teen girl. "We moved from St. Louis, Mo. to Charlottesville, Va. in the middle of my son's sophomore year in high school. It was a rough time for all of us," she says.
Her son wasn't happy about moving. "His initial reaction was anger," says Jaggers. "After several days of hearing ‘You guys suck,' I'd had enough." She chronicled the move on her blog, STLWorkingMoms.
Parents who had been through the experience weighed in. They advised her to discuss the move with confidence, be reassuring about the kids' fears, and avoid apologizing. "Our kids...more quickly accepted our decision since they learned there was no debate and we had nothing to ‘feel sorry' for," Jaggers says.
In decades past, parents raised children within a network of neighbors, family, and friends. Blogs bring back that sense of community. Today, we're not as isolated as we think-not when there's a virtual village out there for every parent.
YUNFENG CHANG, HOUSTON, TX 11/03/07
The "if you cannot beat them- join them" still rules! What is the most effective way to send across information and values to teens from their parents. Let's face it, knowing what their teens are getting from MySpace is one fact finding aspect, being able to provide information to them is another. I am more interested in having some influence on teens through posting or answering their questions. The more credited information has been provided the less misinformation. Misinformation is worse than no information.
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