2/3/10

What the heck is a momspotter????


I’ve been working on several projects these last couple of months, and one of them is through Family Connections on BlogHer. It’s called the Family Connections journalism project – and some of us who have been fortunate enough to be included are called momspotters.

Some of you might have noticed that on Twitter I have been using the hashtag #momspotting after many of my tweets. This is conjunction with a Sprint promotion, and I use that hashtag on tweets that involve my children and the various technology devices they might be using. (I might just use the hashtag ANYTIME I mention my children, but that’s between me and you!)

I’ve decided this might be a perfect time to do a meme that we “momspotters” have been passing around. Feel free to grab it and do it on your OWN blog!

1. Which expensive electronic device do you most often let your older children abuse?

That HAS to be the laptop. We are fighting for time on it- as we all need to use it! Homework HAS to be completed on it- and I recently discovered that our local middle school children are able to check out laptops if they’re family’s don’t have one. (I may have to look into that myself!)

2. How many take-out restaurant numbers do you have programmed into your phone?

One. And He’s related to that Chinese Ed who keeps leaving crazy comments. I think it’s his brother. (Uncle Jed.)

3. How many hours of television do you so totally not let your kids watch a week?

Am I a bad person if I say I’ve never counted or monitored that? The kids have always loved being outside, doing a variety of things to drive me crazy, and have a pretty great balance with all things they do.

4. Do you think people who say “we don’t watch television” at playdates but really mean “we just watch DVDs” are lying liars from Liarville?

Yes. Yes. and Yes.

5. How many miles have you driven with your child and not one device of electronic entertainment in a single car trip?

0.

6. What’s your record for calls to the pediatrician or Ask-a-Nurse in a single day?

1. When I am worried enough to call – I make sure I am going in. (When you’re a teacher, you make sure the kid is SICK before sending them to the nurse!)

7. What’s the sexiest thing your husband/partner could text you after a hard day?

Tightwad doesn’t even KNOW what texting IS. Frankly, he is sexiest when holding those mudding and sanding tools he's using to finish our master bedroom that he's been working on for EIGHT YEARS. Yeah. I'm still in the "temporary" room in the basement. We'll chat about THAT later.

8. What’s your favorite iPad joke?

Huh? Is that related to knee-pads? shoulder pads? maxi-pads?

9. What’s the dumbest parenting tool, gear, gadget or device you ever bought?

That bottle of gin. The vodka worked MUCH better.

10. How many years will it take for your child to become more tech-savvy than you?

Are you kidding? That happened YEARS AGO. My kids program my phone, help me on the computer, and basically I’d be LOST without them. Technologically speaking, that is. Now, if only I could get Bitchy to respond to my Skype phone calls, we'd be in business. (She taught me how to use it- but refuses to answer me. Hence,the name.)



Whew.



28 comments:

Lori P said...

I got two comments:

1) the expensive techie gadget - SO the laptop. and smart ass complained to me yesterday about how her hand-me-down was falling apart. It's because she drops it on the floor, steps on it, sleeps in the bed with it, etc.

and

b) skype. my kid tutored me in skypedom and I'm a pro. but SHE won't have any part of it. her friends beg her to skype and she won't. You know what it is - vanity. no makeup - no skype. simple as that.

Michele said...

When my kids moved 2000 miles away I had to bug them to get Skype. Now they call every Sunday and not to ask for money. Awwwww.. the power of guilt.

The Mayor said...

Have you ever had the perfect Vodka Gimlet? When we meet at Blissdom I'll make you one. Guess I better pack my martini shaker.

Gadget Abuse: Got our 17 y.o a Mac laptop in April. In July her 13 yo sister startled her and a glass of fruit punch spilled on it. She hid it, didn't tell us....and it died a slow lonely death in her closet.

Apple store said hope you bought this with an American Express (they cover mishaps like this) card..uh no..don't have one. Too bad, so sad.

Scope said...

I think Scope will Skype very soon. Due to reasons similar to Michele's, but oposite.

Brian Miller said...

my 7 year old is catching up quicly...

justmakingourway said...

The six year old is not ahead of us yet....but I expect that within the next couple of years.

Is it bad for me to say I don't get the iPad thing either?? (Maybe that proves my kid will pass my technological knowledge in no time!)

Anonymous said...

If I had kids, I would let them program everything, we can't figure the stuff out!

mo.stoneskin said...

Liars from Liarville?

*switches off DVD player*

Nope.

AiringMyLaundry said...

Oh yes, when I'm at a playdate and I hear, "Oh, Little Stewie doesn't watch TV," I want to say, "Oh puh-lease lady."

Pseudo said...

I think there might be two or three of you Vodka. Seriously. How you find the tiem to Tweet, Blog, be in all these groups, plus full time teaching and mothering. I am in awe.

My kids are 17 and 20 and pased me up ions ago.

Ron said...

My mother has her own version of momspotting... she breaks out in hives anytime she's forced to interact with any form of technology--internet, cell phone, DVR--hit the power button and she breaks out in hives.

Everyday Goddess said...

I could post the answers, but I'd be afraid of being called an liar liar pants on fire.

Yeah, why Gin?

Vodka Logic said...

Great questions and great answers/

TV... whats that we don't have any in liarville

Sue said...

I would be lost without "my kids", including two that work with me at the store and aren't blood related. I'm "techy" challenged!Even my two grandbabies, including the 7 month old, know how to use our iphones!
Take care, Sue

LegalMist said...

iPad is Apple's newest device, rather unfortunately named, coming out next month, I think.

Saw a photoshopped pic of a pack of maxi-pads with the "iPad" logo on them on someone's blog last week, so I had to look up "iPad" so I could "get" the joke. Too funny.

People who say they don't watch tv at all are either insufferable snobs or outright liars - or both!

I don't watch much, just 'cause I don't have time, but you'd better believe we watch the "good stuff" every chance we get. I hate it when I have to miss the Simpsons or Nip/Tuck!

LegalMist said...

Also, I just voted for you over at "the Babble." I love that you've made it so easy to vote by clicking on the little icon at the top left side of your blog.

You have 998 votes right now. The leader has something like 1671.

I don't get this. You have 1304 followers. If everyone would just go vote *one time* you'd be winning this thing!!

Come on, people. You love VodkaMom! Go vote for her!!!

Sprite's Keeper said...

My three year old has already reprogrammed John's I-Phone to lock him out twice. We're seriously screwed.

slow panic said...

ok now i get the momspotting. that has been driving me crazy.

vodka -- yes -- isn't that just the answer to all of these?

driving to the liquor store NOW

oh and i've been waiting for my 40 year old kitchen to be remodeled for 13 years. which means my kitchen is now 53 years old.

vodka vodka vodka vodka

Deb said...

-->It would be hard for the two teenagers to compete with me (and their Dad) in technology and that's mainly because we have jobs and can afford more!
There are 6 laptops/1 pc, 2 blackberries, 2 phones, 3 iPods, etc between the four of us.
I LOVE TECHNOLOGY!
~deb
www.WebSavvyMom.com

TexasRed said...

Awesome.

Also, I need to recommend to you Tito's vodka. Texas-made beverage that's become a hit at our house recently. (who needs gin?!?)

Captain Dumbass said...

I let my kids play with my iTouch sometimes. Not my most expensive gadget, but I get the shakes waiting for them to drop it.

Mellodee said...

I'm on the same page as everybody else, technology moves a lot faster than I do!!

I must, however, take issue with one of the comments. LegalMist said, "People who say they don't watch tv at all are either insufferable snobs or outright liars - or both!"

Unnhh, NO! That is so not true! I do not watch TV at all anymore. I haven't for the last 5 or 6 years. Why should I? There is nothing but garbage as far as I can tell. I don't want to watch some idiots have a "reality". Who do they think they're kidding??

Don't watch the news, the weather, prime time, cable, movies, sports, late night, reruns, new shows, none of it....and I don't miss it.

I don't think that makes me either a snob or a liar, thank you very much!

I'd rather read.

Anonymous said...

I have way to many take out numbers in my phone, and the sad part is, they all know me by my first name..lol

Grace's Mom said...

On the contrary, I'm trying to get Grace to find a tv show she's interested in! Sometimes, I just need 15-20 minutes without her following me around and "helping." Every chance I get I have her sit down and check out a new flick on TV!

I can't believe I haven't been nominated for Mommy of the Year. ;)

Anonymous said...

I don't know if they are lying about tv, but either way the are pretentious, IMO.

There IS quality tv if you care enough to look for it. It doesn't make you a better parent for not allowing it. Geez.

shrink on the couch said...

My husband doesn't EMAIL let alone text. But he's handy with the mudding and sanding tools, too. Sooooo sexy! And that cordless electric drill? Wow. ALL is forgiven when that baby's running.

Lia at Petite Little Bee said...

Great blog. Hope you have a super day. Lia

An Unlikely Retirement said...

Ha...the laptop is a hot commodity. My 9 yo son (almost 10) has his own netbook, but "it's too slow!"

He really, really, really, wants a cell phone for his birthday in April. Three of his classmates have them (yes, I checked with the moms). I don't know...he doesn't even go anywhere by himself yet!

I don't explicitly monitor their TV. If I notice it's been on for a while, I will always pull the, "It's a beautiful day. Go outside and play." That is, if it's not raining, which it has been doing for the last gajillion months.

Thankfully, I'm still the pro around here. But I imagine that may change eventually!