For a long time we have had three computers in our house. Howard has his computer. I have my computer. The kids have their computer. We have a wireless network to allow all of these machines access to the internet. All was well until one of the kids cranked the wireless antenna off the kidputer to use it for a sword. The antenna was not re-attachable.
Until recently this was only a minor problem because most of what the kids do doesn’t require connectivity. Then came Neopets. We got piles of neopet cards from our tour of Wizards of the Coast. Kiki quickly realized that there is a neopet.com and she begged to try it out. I picked a good time and let her have my computer for awhile. Now she has it for “awhile” every single day. She has also been exploring worldofdeltora.com. Not to be left out, Gleek has spent some time on Mylittlepony.com and barbie.com.
All the internet activites meant that my computer was frequently in use when I wanted to write or just surf for awhile. The introduction of my Thinkpad has solved the writing problem. I don’t really need to surf, I just want to. So peace returned. I could let the kids use my computer in the basement while I typed upstairs in the sunshine.
This evening I discovered Kiki sitting with my Thinkpad in her lap. She was reading one of my stories. I don’t object to her reading my stories, but she’d picked up my computer and poked around on it without asking permission. She had intruded into my space. I explained to her why I was upset. She nodded like she understood and then launched into a campaign for me to allow her to write stories using my Thinkpad.
I was and am torn. I love that Kiki wants to write stories. I understand her predicament of having things swirling in her brain that she wants to get out. But if I let her use my Thinkpad, she will slowly take it over. I love that I can just walk over, flip it open and write. Walking over and kicking someone else off is not the same experience at all. There would be times where I’ll kick her off without a problem. There would be other times where I’d go without writing so that she could write.
I am on call, all day, every day. My kids play with every thing from my pillow to my clothes to my hair. They firmly believe that everything I own is available to them. Is it so selfish that I want to keep one little laptop to myself? I don’t want to share. I don’t want it dinged, dropped, or broken. I don’t want kids moving my files around or accidentally erasing things. I want it to be always available for me.
When I get a new laptop, one with wireless capability, then Kiki can have this old Thinkpad for writing her stories or essays or whatever. Until then she’ll just have to make do with the kidputer or paper-and-pen.
They make USB Wireless adapters that aren’t too dear. I even found one that works with an ancient iMac, for my daughter. Cool!
They make USB Wireless adapters that aren’t too dear. I even found one that works with an ancient iMac, for my daughter. Cool!
Oh yeah, despite setting up quick user switching on our three Macs, we’ve each ended up using separate computers (and daughter fully understands user space and such in computers). You’re right about being able to just sit down and start working. Is very nice and relaxing.
Oh yeah, despite setting up quick user switching on our three Macs, we’ve each ended up using separate computers (and daughter fully understands user space and such in computers). You’re right about being able to just sit down and start working. Is very nice and relaxing.
My thought before your last paragraph was that she could write just as easily with the kid computer as with yours. If you do decided to let the kids use one of your computers you may want to give them their own accounts and make your account password only accessible. When my brother and his boys were living with us that’s what we did with my computer. (We gave my brother a password account too.)That way you can see their stuff if you need to but they can’t move/delete your stuff.
My thought before your last paragraph was that she could write just as easily with the kid computer as with yours. If you do decided to let the kids use one of your computers you may want to give them their own accounts and make your account password only accessible. When my brother and his boys were living with us that’s what we did with my computer. (We gave my brother a password account too.)That way you can see their stuff if you need to but they can’t move/delete your stuff.
Tiny Gods
My Tiny God is completely off-limits to my kids, and will remain so for the forseeable future.
I’m a computer tech by day, and don’t want to do the same job at night any more often than I must.
I’ve got some older PCs that I’m getting ready for the kids – all running XP – and they’ll have to make do with that until … well, until I’m ready to build a new rig, frankly.
You are – in this as in most other things – far more tolerant that I’d have been.
Tiny Gods
My Tiny God is completely off-limits to my kids, and will remain so for the forseeable future.
I’m a computer tech by day, and don’t want to do the same job at night any more often than I must.
I’ve got some older PCs that I’m getting ready for the kids – all running XP – and they’ll have to make do with that until … well, until I’m ready to build a new rig, frankly.
You are – in this as in most other things – far more tolerant that I’d have been.
Depending on what else you do besides write, this might be a viable alternative for you. Or for kiki.
http://www1.alphasmart.com/danastore/dana-w_features.html
They show up on ebay rather cheaper.
Note that you can do email, but there isn’t a decent free browser, nd I haven’t tried a pay browser because they are apt to have the same problem the free ones have (wrong screen size. The Dana runs PalOS and many programs don’t realize it has a much larger screen)
Depending on what else you do besides write, this might be a viable alternative for you. Or for kiki.
http://www1.alphasmart.com/danastore/dana-w_features.html
They show up on ebay rather cheaper.
Note that you can do email, but there isn’t a decent free browser, nd I haven’t tried a pay browser because they are apt to have the same problem the free ones have (wrong screen size. The Dana runs PalOS and many programs don’t realize it has a much larger screen)
I don’t have kids, so maybe I’ll feel differently when I do. But right now, I cannot imagine myself under any circumstances allowing a child to use my laptop. I have trouble letting other *adults* touch my laptop. I’m not generally a terribly proprietary person, but if I don’t have a working computer to write on, there goes my future. Plus, I hate it when my computer breaks–and this is a hatred that surpasses all other unpleasantries that I have to deal with on a regular basis. So I do everything I can to avoid that breakage.
That said, I don’t think you’re being unreasonable.
I don’t have kids, so maybe I’ll feel differently when I do. But right now, I cannot imagine myself under any circumstances allowing a child to use my laptop. I have trouble letting other *adults* touch my laptop. I’m not generally a terribly proprietary person, but if I don’t have a working computer to write on, there goes my future. Plus, I hate it when my computer breaks–and this is a hatred that surpasses all other unpleasantries that I have to deal with on a regular basis. So I do everything I can to avoid that breakage.
That said, I don’t think you’re being unreasonable.
Just because you are a mom does not mean that you gave up all your right to personal property. Most writers start out with a pen or pencil and a piece of paper… it won’t limit Kiki’s creative capability to do the same. Plus, as the children get older, you have to set some limits. If I hadn’t set limits when Eliz was younger, I’d be wearing rags because my closet would be the first target of teen depredations. As it is, my limits for the girls are about what my limits are for them with each other.
Just because you are a mom does not mean that you gave up all your right to personal property. Most writers start out with a pen or pencil and a piece of paper… it won’t limit Kiki’s creative capability to do the same. Plus, as the children get older, you have to set some limits. If I hadn’t set limits when Eliz was younger, I’d be wearing rags because my closet would be the first target of teen depredations. As it is, my limits for the girls are about what my limits are for them with each other.
I have kids. They don’t touch. VERY few adults get to touch. I love my children and sharing is a good thing, but one of the essential lessons in life is learning to respect others and their property. Parents are not excluded in this. Sandra, not only do you NEED to draw this line, your kids need this line drawn for them.
I have kids. They don’t touch. VERY few adults get to touch. I love my children and sharing is a good thing, but one of the essential lessons in life is learning to respect others and their property. Parents are not excluded in this. Sandra, not only do you NEED to draw this line, your kids need this line drawn for them.
I think that’s reasonable, if only because once upon a time (not so long ago) I was a Kiki who went and stole her mother’s possessions. And you should have your own space, even if it is space in a possession.
And now, years later, that I have my own private and personal laptop? I do all my writing by hand, then type it into the computer to preserve it. Go figure.
Plus, all kids these days should practice writing by hand more often, if only because so few things are still hand written.
I think that’s reasonable, if only because once upon a time (not so long ago) I was a Kiki who went and stole her mother’s possessions. And you should have your own space, even if it is space in a possession.
And now, years later, that I have my own private and personal laptop? I do all my writing by hand, then type it into the computer to preserve it. Go figure.
Plus, all kids these days should practice writing by hand more often, if only because so few things are still hand written.