Dear Facebook Friends and Family, in My Unpredictable Life ...

Would you kindly please stop asking our 11 year old daughter (soon to be 12), or us, her parents, when she will be getting her own Facebook account. Although we are certain your intentions are innocent and noble, it is becoming quite bothersome to constantly repeat ourselves so that is why I have decided to write this out. Everyone will understand why she is not going to be having her own Facebook account anytime soon.

"Facebook requires everyone to be at least 13 years old before they can create an account (in some jurisdictions, this age limit may be higher). Creating an account with false info is a violation of our terms. This includes accounts registered on the behalf of someone under 13." - Facebook Tools for Parents & Educators

The Child is only 11. Therefore, according to Facebook, it is a violation of their terms for her to have an account.

"Okay, but there are plenty of children under the age of 13 that have a Facebook account. Why would she be any different?"

I'll tell you how she is different. WE are her parents.

If we allowed her to have a Facebook account now, we would be teaching our child that it is okay to lie, be deceitful, bend or break rules to accommodate our own selfish needs.

In order for her to have a Facebook account now, she'd have to LIE about her age. Or we would have to LIE for her.

The world is full of enough liars, enough deceit, enough people who feel "entitled" or that the rules don't apply to them. We will NOT allow our child to grow up thinking it is okay to be one of those individuals!

We are raising our child to be honest and to be held accountable for her actions. She has been taught from day one that every action has a consequence ... whether it is a good consequence (rewarded) or a bad consequence (punished).

"But it is just her age. We aren't asking her to go out and murder someone or rob a bank. Honestly, it's just a number. It's just a small, minor, silly little thing really ..."

Okay, today it is her age. Tomorrow it is, "Yes Ma'am, I studied for my history test." Next week I'm finding a test with a "D" on it in the trash can. Next month it is, "Well there were other kids in my class who were chewing gum. It's not my fault they didn't get detention like it did!" (Yes her school has 30 minute after school detention for chewing gum!!)

Do you see where I am going with this? If we don't take a stand now and draw the line between right and wrong, then when do we draw that line? Once you start with a teeny tiny little white lie, and you get away with it, then you'll want to try it again, and then again, and then again. Before you know it, all these teeny, tiny fibs have started an avalanche and it is hard to get out from underneath it. So why start in the first place?

"But, but, but ... but we want to know how she is doing! We want to be able to keep up with her and see her pictures!"

Her father and I both post enough information about/pictures of her on our own Facebook walls to appease you and everyone else. If that isn't enough for you, then by all means please pick up a phone and call her! If you really are that interested in her, there are many of other options available to you other than Facebook. Even if she is grounded, she will always be available to talk to family!

Now, with all that being said, please understand that we are in no way, shape or form judging you for allowing your under 13 year old to have a Facebook account. We are not trying to step on anyone's toes, we are not trying to say you are raising your child(ren) to be miscreant's. You are raising your child the way you want to raise him or her, the way you feel is best for your family and we respect that. Honestly! All we ask is that you show us the same courtesy and not judge us for raising our daughter the way we want to raise her. And to please respect our wishes to stop asking when she will be getting her own Facebook account. We have promised her that when she turns 13 years old we will sit down with her and discuss it at length to determine if her actions thus far has determined if she is mature enough for Facebook or not. Until then please continue to enjoy the updates and the pictures her father and I post of her on our own walls.

Thank you for your understanding!