My Favorite Things: Facebook

I might be officially outing myself as a nerd, but I really love Facebook.

Anything that makes the world a little smaller is good in my book. My first experience with it was a invitation from a friend I had made while living in the Netherlands and had kept up with a few times a year by email. So, I signed up and within days I had people who I never thought I would hear from again find me. Many of them live in other countries so the chance of bumping into them in any other setting were pretty slim, and I had long since lost email contact. Old high school friends! college buddies! blogging friends I have never actually met in person! You are all on there and I love you all :-) I love that I can keep up with baby, wedding and general life announcements in one spot. I can see pictures of my friend's children and families and catch up with relatives that I don't see often. These things are all awesome, but I think what I like most about it is it helps keep me from feeling as isolated.


Here is the thing. I am a stay at home mom for the moment. I am very aware of and grateful for the opportunity as long as it lasts. I adore my children, but there is no denying that it can be lonely, especially when you don't have another adult walking into the house at the end of the work day to remind you that you are more than the maker of food, changer of diapers and warden of the crazy house. All the things I used to be able to text J during the day or save until our evening talks about the funny/sweet/frustrating things the kids did or to discuss something I heard on the news isn't really an option anymore. I like being able to tell my facebook friends about my 6 a.m. conversations with Sam or send out into cyberspace that I have accomplished folding every bit of laundry in the house (that's a big deal! You try it...) It's tiny little things, but it generates feedback and conversations and it makes me feel a little less lonely on a daily basis when I am too busy doing kid things to stop and chat with someone in person.

That being said, like so many things, Facebook is abusable. I do not ignore my kids to be on it but when I have a spare moment, it is nice to take a break or log on in the evenings when the house is too quiet and see what the rest of the world is up to. Being a mom is hard and being a mom without another adult around on a day to day basis is even harder. I can't put a price on the things that help me keep my sanity and help me feel like a person outside of my mom role, so facebook makes the list. Interacting via the Internet isn't a good permanent substitute, but it's a decent temporary one until life shifts again. :-)