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Watch Oprah Today!

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Ocean Lover said:

Toots, I really have no desire to see it either but since I have a preteen I feel that I must.

I don't blame you. I'm sure there will be some good things to learn about today's world on the net. it seems the net brings a whole new set of dangers for our children that we need to protect them from. Aware parents, like yourself, are able to offer that protection.

I think the computer is like TV. We have to be diligent with how they are used in our homes. And have continuous and open dialog with kids about today's issues, personal choices, confidence in making good choices, and so on.

I will not put a TV in my child's bedroom at any age. That is his place to rest and read and play. If he wants to watch something on TV, he'll have to get in line (wait his turn) in the family room. The computer will probably be treated the same way - but who knows - that's years away for me.

Let me know what you learn...
 
I didn't particularly want to watch it either. But I knew I had to, as a parent I feel obligated. It made me absolutely sick to my stomach. I watched this sweet boy this morning, and I envisioned my own sweet son, being taken in completely. The things our teens have thrown at them.
I wish I didn't feel as though I had to watch it. But I don't want to regret it later by looking the other way. I have close family members who'd "rather not know."

And what's even scarier, my son says they are not allowed to go to particular websites during school (in the computer labs) like Myspace.com, and instant message each other. But for those who are the least bit computer savvy, it's ridiculously easy to get around that. Just as this boy said today.

Moral values do start at home, but peer pressure is outside of the home.
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Just wanted to say "thank you" for posting this thread to get more people to watch. As I've said before, I work with abused and neglected children (sexual, physical, and emotional abuse). This kind of thing occurs so much more often than most people want to realize or admit. One of the best pieces of advice I can give that relates to Oprah's show today is to never let your children have a computer in their room. It needs to be in central, visible location in the house. You may have the best, more moral, wholesome kids in the world, but petaphiles can still get to them. It's happening at younger and younger ages. This show is scary - but realistic. :( I'm glad the teenager on this show got help. Oprah is doing a lot right now to help capture sexual perpatrators. Just throwing my two cents in again...
 
Great recommendation JR - I'll catch it on the rebroadcast tonight at 11:05PM. Yikes - Oprah 2 days in a row. Had to TIVO Garth Brooks and Tricia Yearwood for the hubby yesterday. He says he know that Garth & Tricia were in love way back when. I watched about 15 minutes of it and had to turn it off. Anyone else see it?
 
Tatertot said:
Just wanted to say "thank you" for posting this thread to get more people to watch. As I've said before, I work with abused and neglected children (sexual, physical, and emotional abuse). This kind of thing occurs so much more often than most people want to realize or admit. One of the best pieces of advice I can give that relates to Oprah's show today is to never let your children have a computer in their room. It needs to be in central, visible location in the house. You may have the best, more moral, wholesome kids in the world, but petaphiles can still get to them. It's happening at younger and younger ages. This show is scary - but realistic. :( I'm glad the teenager on this show got help. Oprah is doing a lot right now to help capture sexual perpatrators. Just throwing my two cents in again...
Thanks. One thing shocking on the segment was the boy's mother, she is someone like you, an advocate/couselor for sexually abused children, and she thought everything was o.k. Didn't see the signs. And I don't know if you would or not. Everybody tells you to ease up - gotta let your kids grow up a little, give them a little space, let them make a few choices, & I think that is what the mother thought she was doing. I do it too.
But the term they kept using over and over today was what really hit home for me: the computer allows predators in your home. They are in your home all the time.
 
WIll keeps begging for internet access in his room - NO!!! He has a nice computer, his games are on it, he, does school work, and if he needs to print anything, he loads it on his thumb drive and brings it to our computer. If he needs internet, he has to wait for me to get off SoWal (sometimes the poor kid waits all night:floor: ). I can't trust him to be on this board by himself since he gets on and talks about me.:shock:


TV is in the kids' play area, and games are with that. No cable TV/internet in bedrooms at this house! Well, we have cable in our room...
 
I completely agree JohnRudy. you can know all the signs and still not see them coming at the same time. Some parents are in denial, some are ignorant, some just don't care, and then some are the best parents possible, protect their children, take every precaution, and the world still creeps in and steals their children's innocence. it's getting harder and harder to know what your kids are being exposed too (due to webcams, internet, etc). I hope and pray my children are never effected or confronted with a predator of any kind, but I'm not naive (sp?) enough to think it can't happen regardless of my profession or what kind of parent I am.
 
I will not put a TV in my child's bedroom at any age. That is his place to rest and read and play. If he wants to watch something on TV, he'll have to get in line (wait his turn) in the family room. The computer will probably be treated the same way -


Way to go Tootsie...that is about the only parenting regret I have. TV s in a child's room isolate them from the family, and families are fragmented enough without extra help. We won an extra tv, so we gave it to my daughter. SHe spent way more time in her room than I wanted. Hang tough, it will pay off in time.
 
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