Parenting Chat Thread #3 (parents, son, classes, husband)

[maciesmom]

Originally Posted by Zimbochick

You guys must have a better memory than me. If I changed things up, I'd never remember my story. Only one person knows what school my kids go to (of course she's the nuttiest of the nuts as fate would have it! ).

I don't necessarily "change" things, I just don't get specific. I try to keep things pretty general...if I change anything it's small details that could be identifying....

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Zimbochick

You guys must have a better memory than me. If I changed things up, I'd never remember my story. Only one person knows what school my kids go to (of course she's the nuttiest of the nuts as fate would have it! ).

I've made real life friends here (who I met in the Pittsburgh forum). I've also made friends elsewhere on the internet too.

They know the real details. After all, we visit each other's houses fairly regularly!

My son had such unique issues and education history that it was important for me to change a few core details. Otherwise, some idiot parent in real life school district could have stumbled upon me on the internet and learne too much about my son's problems. My son deserved privacy while I sought support in how to handle the stress of those parenting challenges. It's just simply basic stuff, nothing that requires a memory. Just a tweek of a few basic facts. Although, I really haven't bothered to do that much here in the past coupel of years because I no longer have those huge parenting issues I was having when I first started posting on the internet (on a different website) looking for support and advice.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by maciesmom

I don't necessarily "change" things, I just don't get specific. I try to keep things pretty general...if I change anything it's small details that could be identifying....

Ages and genders are small, easy details to change though. When I needed to share specifics about a problem, it was hard to stay general. That's when it's important to change other identifying details.

The difference is probably in needing advice versus giving advice. Back when I was on the internet looking for advice and support, I needed to share many more details than I do now as someone who just hangs out here for fun like I do now

[maciesmom]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Yeah, it is, isn't it? I only use it when I remember someone said X in the past.

Most times I can't remember anyone. It's amazing I remember all of you here and how to find the thread!


Yep. It's a much better parenting discussion than the fake abuse threads we get sometimes.

Remember the girl who went to a Catholic school in Texas? I can't believe I fell for that.

That's why I sometimes look when it's a new poster....with only a few posts...I'm not some weird stalker but I do wonder sometimes when I can't wrap my head around what people are saying....

[Zimbochick]

I get what you guys are saying. If I posted more in the regional forums, I can understand being more cautious. I have made some good friendships in the P&OC forum too (I know, hard to believe!), and am on FB with a few, and have met a few, but you do have to be careful.

[maciesmom]

Zimbo - I've made some very good friends here on CD - I pretty much am who I am but I do think it's important to be cautious - especially when it comes to my kids....I respect their privacy and really make an effort to not be too specific when it comes to them or something that could possibly affect them.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Zimbochick

I get what you guys are saying. If I posted more in the regional forums, I can understand being more cautious. I have made some good friendships in the P&OC forum too (I know, hard to believe!), and am on FB with a few, and have met a few, but you do have to be careful.

I do post in the Pittsburgh forum. That's where I posted for years before I came down here to the parenting forum. I posted for help with my son on a different forum long before I even joined CD. Of course, now and then, very rarely, I have posted here about my parenting struggles. But things have really mellowed out. Those challenges are long past. My children graduated high school and have gone off to college. It's amazing how much easier they get after the hormones stop raging.

Originally Posted by maciesmom

Zimbo - I've made some very good friends here on CD - I pretty much am who I am but I do think it's important to be cautious - especially when it comes to my kids....I respect their privacy and really make an effort to not be too specific when it comes to them or something that could possibly affect them.

I am who I am here too. I simply changed a few small details that don't really change who I am or what I deal with daily. The changed details just make it more difficult to identify me or my family. I have complete faith that nobody could identify my children here. I think most of us protect our children that way---even the ones who appear to be "telling all."

[Zimbochick]

I'm pretty much WYSIWYG too. I will say in real life I have never been one to reveal too much anyway. Information will spread, one has no control over that, so I only tell what I'm happy for the world to hear. Same goes online.

BTW The Good Wife finale tonight! Squee!

[strawflower]

I've changed a few details of my life before for privacy purposes..then when the topic/topics came up again, I forgot I had said something different than what it really was and the details came out differently. Whoops!

[DewDropInn]

Originally Posted by maciesmom

.... I do think it's important to be cautious - especially when it comes to my kids....I respect their privacy and really make an effort to not be too specific when it comes to them or something that could possibly affect them.

Totally agree. I'm always kind of shocked whenever people talk about their kids too personally. I figure I'm responsible for what I say about myself but I'm real careful about not disclosing too much about them. And sex lives. I'm way too much of a prude to disclose anything about that. For them or me.