So your mom always peeks at what you’re doing when you’re on the computer...
MOS (mom over shoulder) syndrome is a real drag, not just for computers but texting, too. Some moms even take it a step further – like snooping through emails and Facebook posts when you’re away at school. Dang! Doesn’t she have enough in her own life to worry about? Why can’t she keep her butt out of yours?
The answer is simple: she’s your mother.
Save the eye roll and work with me here. When your mom took you home from the hospital she made an unspoken, but binding contract with the world. She promised to not only feed you, clothe you, and steer you away from fishnet stockings, but TO KEEP YOU ALIVE AS LONG AS YOU LIVE UNDER HER ROOF.
99.9% of moms take this oath very seriously. With the world the way it is who can blame them? The news is rife with stories about girls being swept away by guys they’ve met over the internet only to be found weeks later buried in a corn field. (Just check out my chat room dream date.) Others feature girls that have committed suicide after months of cyber-bullying. What are their parents often quoted as saying? “We had no idea. She gave no clue.”
When some folks read those quotes, they can’t believe it. No clues? Impossible! All I can say to them is, “Have you ever raised a teenager?” There’s no question about it, you guys can be sneaky. I know it, and your mom knows it.
Now whether your mom trusts you or not, I can’t say. It depends on many factors, including your past behavior as well as theirs. I can tell you this, though: Your mom doesn’t trust the world, and that makes her one smart cookie. Her snooping/hovering may be really annoying, but take comfort in the fact that it is rooted in a deep desire to keep you safe.
As for what you can do? Normally, I stress voicing your concerns. The only problem is she might wonder why you’re so worried, assume you must be hiding something, and step up the spying. So make sure to keep the conversation casual to avoid undue suspicious. From there, your best bet is to keep your nose clean and make sure all your cyber activity is on the up and up. It’s the smart thing to do anyway. This goes for texting, too. If a fisherman doesn’t catch anything, he’ll move to another pond. If your mom doesn’t catch anything, she might just do the same. If she doesn’t, you’ll just have to grin and bear it. Remember, it could be worse. Some girls’ moms don’t give a spam what their daughters do. Be glad that yours does.
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MOS (mom over shoulder) syndrome is a real drag, not just for computers but texting, too. Some moms even take it a step further – like snooping through emails and Facebook posts when you’re away at school. Dang! Doesn’t she have enough in her own life to worry about? Why can’t she keep her butt out of yours?
The answer is simple: she’s your mother.
Save the eye roll and work with me here. When your mom took you home from the hospital she made an unspoken, but binding contract with the world. She promised to not only feed you, clothe you, and steer you away from fishnet stockings, but TO KEEP YOU ALIVE AS LONG AS YOU LIVE UNDER HER ROOF.
99.9% of moms take this oath very seriously. With the world the way it is who can blame them? The news is rife with stories about girls being swept away by guys they’ve met over the internet only to be found weeks later buried in a corn field. (Just check out my chat room dream date.) Others feature girls that have committed suicide after months of cyber-bullying. What are their parents often quoted as saying? “We had no idea. She gave no clue.”
When some folks read those quotes, they can’t believe it. No clues? Impossible! All I can say to them is, “Have you ever raised a teenager?” There’s no question about it, you guys can be sneaky. I know it, and your mom knows it.
Now whether your mom trusts you or not, I can’t say. It depends on many factors, including your past behavior as well as theirs. I can tell you this, though: Your mom doesn’t trust the world, and that makes her one smart cookie. Her snooping/hovering may be really annoying, but take comfort in the fact that it is rooted in a deep desire to keep you safe.
As for what you can do? Normally, I stress voicing your concerns. The only problem is she might wonder why you’re so worried, assume you must be hiding something, and step up the spying. So make sure to keep the conversation casual to avoid undue suspicious. From there, your best bet is to keep your nose clean and make sure all your cyber activity is on the up and up. It’s the smart thing to do anyway. This goes for texting, too. If a fisherman doesn’t catch anything, he’ll move to another pond. If your mom doesn’t catch anything, she might just do the same. If she doesn’t, you’ll just have to grin and bear it. Remember, it could be worse. Some girls’ moms don’t give a spam what their daughters do. Be glad that yours does.
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