Social Networking: Changing the Ways Families Communicate

I had my Facebook profile first--before any of my kids. I remind them of that fact often. "Your mom was cooler than you BEFORE you became cool!"

But now all of my daughters and my daughters-in-law have Facebook profiles. It's a great way for us to chat, tell stories, share pictures and have fun. And since there are several miles separating all of us, Facebook has become the new way for us to communicate. I didn't realize how much our communication styles had changed, though, until last week.

My daughter-in-law Jessica let the family know she's expecting. She didn't call us. She didn't tell us over dinner. She posted a message on her Facebook profile that said, "Jessica is feeling pregnant." WHAAAAT? The next morning, she had changed her "Flair board" (the place where you can post virtual buttons) to show only buttons of obviously pregnant silhouettes and a center button that said, "I'm pregnant!" Yup...the news was out. And now all of her friends and family--and my friends and family, and other friends who can view those friends' profiles--know that Jessica is expecting.

The neat thing about having Jessica post her good news this way is that I (and all of the other family/friends) can read the various reactions and posts to her news. Through a social networking site, it's as if we're all rejoicing with Jessica at the same time. I've got to admit that it beats a phone call!