Late O'clock
The clock has just ticked past midnight, and you find me sitting in the junk room at home, writing something rather than nothing before turning in for the night.
My middle daughter was having a bit of a drama this evening - worrying that one of her few friends wasn't talking to her any more. After doing a bit of fishing over dinner, I suggested that we might go and find her some new friends. Some penpals.
After a bit of searching, we found a suitable website, and I chaperoned her - helping write her profile, choose a photo, and respond to the first few people that messaged her. Within minutes she was responding to a number of conversations, and her entire mood had turned around.
Shortly before bed this evening I overheard her breathlessly telling the rest of the household about her new friends. All of this despite my repeated requests that she remain somewhat circumspect about everybody.
Her younger sister is meanwhile not talking to me - because she wanted to join in on the fun too, and I resisted it. She is the social butterfly of the family - she has all the social apps on her phone, and they are filled with school friends. The story for her sister is very different.
After talking it through with my other half, we're going to let her join in the morning too - and I'll be performing the same chaperoning service for the first few hours - watching them both like a hawk, and reading their first interactions.
I trust them - I just don't trust their judgement yet. In many ways my daughters are naiive - expecting the same honesty and transparency from others that they may volunteer. They are both "private" on all the big-name social apps - they have never had to deal with the wider world. This will be a first baby-step.
Anyway. Let's see how tomorrow goes. Hopefully wonderfully. We have to remind ourselves that the internet is full of people just like my daughters - it's not ALL mindless perverts. I'm going to keep telling myself that, while I look out for them.