More on Facebook and my 8-year-old

I posted about Facebook and MC here.

The day after that, she came home with this story.

A classmate, who like MC, was one of those ignorant ones about Facebook, came to school with a big, big smile.

MC, curious, asked her, 'Why are you so happy this morning?'

The classmate informed her proudly that she finally got her own Facebook account the night before. She said that she could finally play at Facebook. She loves Facebook, she announced to MC.

MC just shrugged and said, 'Ok.'

Her classmate teased her, 'you dont know Facebook. I am sure you are jealous!'

MC shrugged nonchalantly and said, 'I dont care about Facebook. My mama showed it to me and I wasnt interested.'

'You are simply jealous,' insisted her classmate. To which MC replied: 'Think what you want.'

To me, she said, 'They are all crazy about Facebook. I dont understand why!'

I hugged her and said, 'Sometimes, you just have to accept that people have different interests.'

When will I get my PSP?

Dear Girls,

This has been discussed, and will be repeatedly discussed.

This has been asked, and will be repeatedly asked.

This has been in your wish list and will be popping up in your list again.

But our answer, at least mine, would still be, not yet.

My answer before stays. You are getting your PSP if you could already pay for one.

I am not paying for something very expensive that would provide my kids a world of their own. I still wanted to be a part of your world.

I am not paying for something very expensive that would keep you from talking to me anymore. I still wanted to hear you talk to me, ask me endless questions, pester me, even.

I am not paying for something very expensive that would keep you busy alone while we impatiently wait in line. I still wanted those stolen moments when you would wrap yourself around me, ask me endlessly 'are we next yet?'

I am not paying for something very expensive that would keep you quiet during long drives. I still wanted to play those 'i see something that you dont see' games while on a trip.

I am not paying for something very expensive that would keep me from smelling your sweaty little bodies. I still wanted to have you snuggling with me when you are bored saying, 'and what should we do now?'

I know most of your friends have PSPs. But as I always tell you, 'being the minority doesnt mean you are missing something. It just simply mean, you chose the alternative.'

And by chosing no PSP -- you chose to play with your dolls, to go around with your bike, to build things with your playmobil, to create crafts and arts with your papers and colors, to discover the world together with your friends and with your family.

There would be enough time in the future to enjoy your PSP.

For now, let's enjoy each other!

Love, Mama

Facebook and My 8-year-old

Going home after school, eight-year-old MC was not in a good mood and it seems I am the culprit.

Prodding her to tell me what's bothering her, she said, 'Mama, what is Facebook?'

I told her Facebook is something that you would see in the computer, in the internet.

She continued belligerently, 'Why are you not telling me anything about Facebook? Dont you know that eight out of 14 kids in our class have Facebook? Only six, including me, doesnt have a Facebook. Even the brothers and sisters of my classmates have Facebook. Our teacher said, she used to have Facebook; but now she dont have it anymore. I dont understand why you wont let me know anything about Facebook.'

I told her that I didnt tell her anything about Facebook because I dont think that Facebook is important to her at this time. I told her I use Facebook because it is good in disseminating information and in sharing some ideas and is good for promoting business matters and events and is great for finding people you have been missing for a long time. (Nope, I dont play games nor add applications, I dont want to complicate things.)

I told her that she could have Facebook when she is at least 18 years old. For now she better enjoy her toys, her friends, her bikes, her freedom to play outside. She blurted out the next question, 'but how is it that G, (our neighbor who is a year older than her) already have one, too?'

'Remember that she proudly informed us that she lied about her age to get a Facebook account?' I emphasized to MC. 'To get something because you lied about is not worth it. You better wait until you are old enough.' Those words seemed to calm her down.

Then I explained to her that her Papa doesnt also know what Facebook is. And G, our new housemaid doesnt know what Facebook is. And F, our office assistant doesnt know what Facebook is. And her Teacher, lost her Facebook already. But all of them are satisfied with their lives. Meaning, Facebook is not that important to live a happy life.

Still, MC wont be appeased. The kids at school was teasing her because she doesnt know anything about Facebook. She wants to know what Facebook is. Basta!

The next morning, I turned on the computer and went online. Finally, MC got to see what Facebook is all about. She saw texts and photos. 'Is that all about Facebook, Mama?' she was disappointed.

I frankly told her that there are more things about Facebook; but these are the things that are important to me.

Then I asked her, 'what do you think is better?'

To which she sheepishly replied, 'I think I better play with my toys!'

But before she left, she gave me a very sweet hug, still smiling sheepishly. I returned it to her, with a small prayer that when MC start really to get really curious to learn more about these social networking sites, I hope that she would let me know.