Occupations
I don't mind this on the weekends but school nights is a strict routine.
Now, you all know that I work in the field of child abuse, specifically the nasty stuff. So, I'm sure you can imagine how overprotective and alert I am of who she is chatting to. I've met my share of internet freaks (Hi!) and I'm an adult.
To say that I've educated her about online dangers would be a given. I've glossed over some stories of predators and email her different cyber bullying case-scenarios as well. I know she supports these because she forwards them to her teen friends and often cc's me into what she's emailing. Nice.
I do trust her. But I don't trust the skills of the predators out there. She's already had older people ask her if she 'wants some fun' via webcam. She is trained now to report abuse to web administrators and collect IP numbers for mummy who notifies the local authorities of the predators location. I've already reported a few pervs who found this blog looking for under-age material. Our computer stays in a shared living space. This means I can see who she is chatting to on web-cam and they can see me if I'm walking past sneaking a peek over her shoulder.
I've also set up parental controls on the computer to monitor her google searches, censorship and chat-links. She knows I'm checking this. Her unlimited access is subject to my approval of her behaviour on line. Am I too harsh?
Most times she says 'Muuuuum. Leave me alone! I'm okay!!!' and I feel like a toxic overprotective mother with a ball of cotton wool in each hand.
I am not OVERLY protective. I allow Carissa a lot of freedoms too. I realise there are significant issues when you rob your children of the chance to make decisions, learn by consequence and fail sometimes. I do not have irrational fears, I think. I understand that when she goes for a run, she's likely to NOT break her leg and sometimes I even let her and a friend walk to the shop without me - that's a big one. I don't want Carissa to learn to be dependent on others. I've been there as an adult and it's a burden. I understand that overprotective parents rob their children of the sense of achievement when something new is overcome.
This brings me to you.
Regarding your job, does it impact on your loved ones? Or your friends if you live alone? Do you find yourself giving work related advice out of hours? Can you switch off?
Do you bring secondary affects home despite knowing that you shouldn't?
Does it start with snarling at the kids if you're over-worked and end with fatigue?
Or perhaps you're balancing someone's books as an accountant outside of the 9 am - 5 pm hours.
How much DOES our career affect our personal life?
Should your friends and family be given a break from the stuff you lay on them?
Take care
C










