Tag Archives: Friends

Facebook Changed Me

Posted in Parent Dilemma, Time Management, Work Mom Balance by

facebook_logoHello.  My name is CC Fowler and I have been a Facebook user since 2006.

I joined shortly after my second child was born and truth be told, I joined to see what old friends I lost touch with were up to.  Once I had found everyone I thought I wanted to find, my usage and purpose for Facebook evolved.  With my curiosity satiated, I began to delete “friends” who clearly were connected to me for the same reasons I was connected to them – to be nosy.  There was no loved lost and it seemed I was not alone in this action.  I was deleted by many a-friends too and quite honestly, it felt good.

But with as many “friends” as I deleted, I gained many more.

My relationship with Facebook again morphed into a phase which clearly mirrored my life at that time.  Deciding the housing market was officially kaput, Hubby and I decided to set our roots and become part of our local community.  And with this move came a new slew of friends – local friends, parents of my children’s friends and neighbors too.  It was the perfect tool to stay connected and keep track of what was cooking locally.  It is still to this day, one my favorite parts of Facebook.

But nothing ever stays the same and yet another phase began to take over.

In 2011, Facebook prompted my alias life of CC Fowler – the blogger.  Why write a status about motherhood or being a mother who freely chose to return to work when I could write a post?   Why not share my experiences with those who were about to embark, were already sharing the ride or just deciding to take this crazy roller coaster of motherhood journey. With that, Centraljerseyworkingmoms was born.  Through this phase of Facebook, I have met and made more “friends” – many of whom I respect and treasure.  In fact, we became friends after we met on Facebook!   Who would have ever thought!  Certainly not me.

Seven years later – 7 years ( I can hardly believe it’s been seven years) – Facebook is a part of my every day life.  I use it to catch up with friends.  I use it for work.  I use it like I use my coffee machine – every day and often.  I can remember approaching the Executive Director of my company suggesting we create a company Facebook page.  It was a rejected idea that eventually was accepted.  Today, I administer six company pages.

Nothing places a smile on my face faster than and old friend sharing a birthday of their parent or the announcement of the birth of a child.  News I would not be privy to if I was not on Facebook.  Sure, there are times (many in fact) where reading a “friend’s” post will send me into a tizzy, but over the years I have come to learn these posts are “friends” trying to communicate who they are (or want us to believe they are) and they have just as much right to enjoy their dose of Facebook as much as I (see the joys of “unfriending” earlier in this post).

Only time will tell how Facebook will impact me – my view of society – others perceptions of me – and my perceptions of others.  But until then, I am CC Fowler and I’m a Facebook user.

Now how about a vague post to draw out a response?

Light the Shit on Fire and Run – Well, Not Exactly.

Posted in Life Lessons, Parent Dilemma, Time Management, Work Mom Balance by

Similar to many other working parents, my husband travels for work.  International and national, most months bring at least one trip.  Back in B.C times (before children), I would venture on a trip or two.  However, due to a combination of a guilty conscience and simply too many after school activities, I have not joined my husband on a work trip in over ten years.

On a recent trip which took place over a weekend, I found myself home with the children on a Saturday night.  Regardless of how old the children are, weekends as a single parent are far more stressful than weekdays.  And on this particular night, I was exhausted by 6pm.  Dear friends of mine were having a ladies night complete with dinner and wine and comfy clothes.  It sounded heavenly.  However, with my husband away on business and no on available to sit with my children, I declined the invite and stayed home.

Early that particular evening, I let my children watch TV.  Yes, I realize it’s not the best approach to “quality time” with children, but it’s effective in letting mommy regain her wits.  I took to my computer to catch up on a few emails - including one to wish my lady friends well on their night out.  This one email turned into a flurry of wine induced emails where the giggles and cackles literally leaped off the screen.  At one point, I felt as if I was eighteen again and unable to “hang out” by mandate of my parents.  However, this time around, my children are issuing the mandate and I am far from eighteen.

Eventually, I shut my computer down and together with the children, nestled into bed.

The quiet and stillness of the next morning broke sometime before 8am.  In a rush to get to mass (which is a blog post all to itself), we quickly moved through our morning routines and opened the front door with only five minutes to spare before mass began.

What appeared on the porch took my breath away.  I skull sat on my porch facing us with a wicked grin and a note attached flapping in the wind.  My first thought was “light the shit on fire and run” but this was clearly not a brown bag.  My children, so engrossed in this present quickly walked on to the porch and handed me the note.  “Na Na Na Na Boo Boo”.    Ah yes….girls night out!  With a smile from ear to ear, I gathered the kids with their new present in hand and rushed off to church.

Later in the day, I messaged my girlfriends and thanked them for making me feel eighteen again to which they merrily explained – in detail – their adventure and how they were sure I heard them giggling on the porch.  They too felt like they were eighteen again.

Funny how just a simple gesture can bring so much light and merriment and make some “older, wiser, mature” women feel so carefree and fun!