I have a young son (“The Professor”) who loves to use the computer. As you can see from the photo above, taken a few years ago, he feels completely comfortable with technology. It amazes me how quickly kids pick up technology. However, that is why it is so important to do everything we can as parents to keep our children safe online.

The computer is not the babysitter.

I know how tempting it can be to put my child in front of a video game on the computer for a few minutes of wonderful, uninterrupted peace and quiet. However, once harmful images are seen online, they cannot be “unseen”. Once a child has been bullied online, the scars remain forever. Once a child gives out private information unknowingly trusting a stranger, the damage has already been done.

It’s a sobering thought that I could compromise my child’s safety and innocence to make myself more comfortable for only a few short minutes…

I’m partnering today with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America to raise awareness of the need to keep our children “Cyber Safe” this summer. Many of our children will spend hours this summer online, and we must do all we can to protect them.

Here are some tips to keep your child safe online this summer:

• Be specific about what’s appropriate to share online and what should be kept private. What you think is personal and what your child thinks is personal may be very different. Ask your child what kinds of things he thinks are okay to share online.
• Model good online behaviors for your child and talk about what you like to do online. Discuss a time you had to make a decision about what to share online and how you decided what to do.
• Spend time with your child online. Ask her to show you her favorite sites. Play her favorite online game with her. By spending time with her, you can share your values and let her know what she should and should not share via the Internet.
• Tell your child to never share her passwords with anyone. It’s becoming more common today, especially among pre-teens who are exploring how to talk with the opposite sex. Many teens believe sharing passwords is a way of building trust with their friends.
• Tell your child to ask an adult he trusts if he has a question about something he wants to share online.
• Invest in internet filtering (like “Covenant Eyes” which I highly, highly, highly recommend) so that your child sees only websites that you would want them to see

To learn more ways to keep your family safe, check out the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and their “Cyber Safe” website. There are several videos and great tips for keeping your family safe online.

Covenant Eyes also has a great downloadable guide to keeping your family safe online. Download it here: Protecting-Your-Family-Online

Stay vigilent, Mama! This matters!

Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Boys & Girls Clubs of America. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

13 years ago today, I walked nervously down a long church aisle toward my soon-to-be husband. In that moment, I was honestly more focused on the details of the wedding than the future of the lifetime to come. Flowers, cake, photos… all had needed my attention. And now, 13 years later… I barely remember any of that.

I do remember that he smiled when he saw me. My husband.

It felt strange to say “husband” for that first year — the hardest year. Living with a stranger can be quite an adjustment. Now I can’t imagine life without him!

I’ve learned some things in these “first” 13 years…

I’ve learned to share and the art of creating a home. Our first home was tiny — you could load the dishwasher, reach into the refrigerator, and eat at the kitchen table all in one spot! — but it was home because we made it one. We laughed there, learned there, and brought home our first baby to that tiny little house on the hill.

I’ve learned to forgive and the importance of apologizing. Ruth Bell Graham was spot-on correct when she said “A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers”. It turns out that promising “for better or for worse” doesn’t just sound good on paper. In times of “for worse”, the promise keeps you together… even if you don’t want to be.

I’ve learned the importance of my husband, my best friend and supporter. When I’ve had a great day, I can’t wait to rush home and tell my husband. When I’ve had a bad day, he’s the shoulder I lean on.

I’ve learned that love is a choice we make each day. When a million responsibilities pull my attention, I have to consciously choose to guard my heart and my relationship with my husband. If everything in the world goes right at the expense of my marriage… it will all be a waste. I have to choose each morning to make my marriage a priority.

I’ve learned that God alone can satisfy this hunger in my heart to be loved, not my husband. Sure, my husband loves me, but seeking to claim my confidence through his words, affection, or love will always leave me wanting more. When I feel confident in who I am in Christ alone, I can love my husband and accept his love in a healthy way.

I’ve learned that laughter makes everything better. Sometimes, you just have to laugh. Life is tough, sweet friends, and a happy heart can sometimes feel choked. Laughter lightens the load and is as important as the air we breathe…

I’ve learned that some things get better with age… including marriage. I notice little flecks of gray in my husband’s hair that weren’t there before. Lines on my forehead that used to only appear with certain expressions… are always visible now. I smile when I think of both. I treasure the thought that as lines formed and as hairs grayed, we were together. We were building a family, creating memories, and holding hands. I pray we’ll have many more lines and gray hairs when we hold hands after sixty years, and sit on the porch and smile at one another through dim eyes. We will love each other even more then than we do now…

I’ve learned that my husband is an awesome father. That’s a great thing since I never considered this while we were dating…

I’ve learned that some things in life are worth fighting for. No marriage is perfect, and in the times we live in, it’s almost always easier to leave. I’m not talking about an abusive marriage, but just petty arguments often turn into an “I’m outta here” mindset. Some things — our homes, marriages, families — we have to look Satan in the eye and say “This is mine. I’m fighting for this by the grace of God. Back up off me, Satan.”

I’ve learned that life is just more fun with your best friend! I can’t imagine life without him!

I’ve learned that children need to know their parents love each other. Go ahead, smooch in front of them — the grossed-out faces and gagging noises they make are PRICELESS!

I’ve learned that because life is only a breath, we must cherish each other every day. My grandparents were married 60 years when my grandfather went home to hug Jesus. My grandmother’s heart broke completely, because she and my grandfather just weren’t finished loving one another yet… I want to love my husband like that, like the first 60 years of marriage are just warming up.

I’ve learned that life is a great big unknown, but having your best friend by your side makes it an adventure, instead of a chore. When I think of the future, I picture him. When I think of the past, I picture him. Of all of the gifts God has given me, my husband is my most treasured.

Happy 13th Anniversary to my hubby! Here’s hoping 13 is a “lucky” number for us!

Pssst….we have a bit of a secret to share for Mother’s Day! Here is a sneak peek of a super special project that is now in the works and coming soon to a Kindle near you–The Pursuit of Motherhood eBook!

Moms/Authors include:

Jasmine of Far Above Rubies
Melanie Y. author of Raising Real Men
Kelly  of Generation Cedar
Caroline of The Modest Mom
Mary  of The Encouraging Home
Jacinda  of Growing Home
Me! (Melanie of Only a Breath)
Sara of A Mama’s Story
Richelle  of Under the Golden Apple Tree
Heather  of Raising Mighty Arrows
Latoya  of Learning to Let Him Lead
June at A Wise Woman Builds Her Home

and more….

Stay tuned for more details coming soon! I’m so excited to be involved in this great project, and I know you will love it!