Cyber-smart Mums
We have heard it all before – you become a mum, you have no time for your friends, you lose touch with the rest of the world as your life now revolves around baby. But wait, the internet is changing all that…
Motherhood is a wonderful thing; you have a new meaning to your life, a new human being to lavish love upon, something different to look forward to every passing day as your baby changes into a child, adolescent and later, adult.
Yet, no matter how fulfilling the whole spectrum is, there is always a part of mum that misses her old life: having adult conversations, catching up with friends and family, and keeping abreast with what’s new in town.
The unfortunate truth is that motherhood is indeed a time-consuming, and sometimes overwhelming task. Fortunately, most mums are somehow gifted with incredible multi-tasking abilities that help them complete more in a day than they think possible!
With the advent of the internet since mid 1990’s, mums are also able to handle their tasks effectively and efficiently. The World Wide Web offers not just connectivity to the rest of the world but also the opportunity to stay connected to friends and loved ones, operate a business or work from home and easy access to networks and resources.
In short, the web has changed the way motherhood works. Here are some ways how:
EMAIL: Need to catch up with a faraway friend but could never find the time to call? Or the both of you can never seem to catch each other at the right time? Put all your tears, fears and hopes into an email and shoot it off through cyberspace! No time for emails but want to keep in touch with friends? Forward jokes, heart-warming messages or short notes just to say “how are you?”
FACEBOOK: Youngsters may say FB is so passé, but it is a great tool to keep abreast with what’s happening in your friends’ lives. You can also post online news and photos of your baby’s developments and your journey as a mother to keep everyone updated on your life.
WEBSITES: From how to breastfeed to teething problems to developmental milestones, you can find anything under the sun on the World Wide Web. Practise using search engines until you get the hang of capturing key words to use for best results.
FORUMS: Why is baby’s poo bright yellow? Why is my hair falling out? Forums are the best place to post questions which you feel are too minor for you to see a doctor but are weighing heavily on your mind.
TWITTER: No time for long-drawn emails, facebooking or surfing? Just twit it- send super short messages either through your computer or mobile phone to stay in touch with others. Reading other’s twits is also entertaining and keeps you from feeling all alone.
WEBCAMS: Too far away to visit your parents as often as you wish, yet want your children to maintain close ties with their grandparents? The webcam is the best tool. Once a week or so, organize an online gathering among your parents and your children. This way, your parents can keep in touch with their grandchildren, and even entice them to visit with exciting attractions such as toys or a cute little puppy!
SKYPE: This audio programme allows you to call people for free from around the world. Just download the application from the Skype website and register for free. You will need a headset to talk to the other party. Skype is sometimes used together with a webcam for better effect.
Be cyber-smart!
As a window to the outside world, the internet also exposes you to various dangers in cyberspace. For a start, your computer is always at risk of attacks from Trojans, viruses and hackers. Here are some tips on how to be a smart netizen and avoid unnecessary cyber attacks.
- Be careful not to post personal details to avoid being a victim of cyber-stalkers and spammers.
- Choose your photos carefully before sharing them on social networks, as photos can be doctored and abused. Avoid posting photos of seductive poses or clothing, or post only photos from the shoulders up.
- Be discerning with your online research and choose only websites that are supported by credible companies. Dubious websites may contain marketing-driven content that entices you to purchase products.
- Beware of work-from-home offers or discounts on branded products that sound too good to be true. Avoid paying any money upfront until you are sure it is a bona fide offer. You will need to do some investigative work before parting with your money.
- Avoid using nicknames with suggestive innuendoes so that you are not sending the wrong messages to cyber-pals.
