Opinion : Just when I thought technology couldn\'t get scarier

Up until a couple years ago, we were one of those odd couples that lived with pay-by-the minute cell phones, which means we didn't use them, except in emergencies. We had dial up on our computer, and were happy with that.

Then things changed, and we went kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

Since then, I've had one experience with an online Facebook hacker, an anonymous texting upset woman needing to vent, and the other night a teenager trying to pick up a guy...and I am assuming on both of the last that they were indeed what they implied.

The other night I got a weird message that simply said, "What's up in the world?" so, I replied, "you tell me."

The scary thing is that after finding out what this gal wanted I started trying to scare this gal away by saying first I was an ex-con, she kept going. She went on to tell me she was 19. I googled her number, found out her general location, freaked her out a bit, she then asked what I went to jail for. At this point I'm thinking this HAS to be a kid that's asking for trouble. Of course, now I'm wondering how much it would take to get her to realize this is a bad idea. Then she wanted to know what this "bad boy" did. Well, now I'm thinking this is either a woman that is drunk, brash, or a really naive kid. So I went with, assault. Thinking that THIS would be the message that sent her running. But no. The thing that did it was when I told her I was 62. THAT was the game changer.

As a mom I felt bad for lying to her, but more than that I felt scared to death! This girl was playing with her life.

So, I replied and told her to PLEASE not do this again, that I really wasn't a 62 year old ex con, but a mom with kids her age. That opened a whole can of worms. She went on to tell me about her parents, her living situation, how she lost her job, she's living with friends, but doesn't know how much longer she can, she didn't graduate and her future doesn't look too promising.

In fact in her words, "I just hate my life, and it isn't getting easier." The mom in me wanted to give her a hug and help her, but how? I simply gave her some advice, first to graduate, to do whatever it takes to do that. Second to find some good people to hang around with.

But as I'm texting this anonymous person, I feel my heart breaking for her. I sometimes thought growing up that I had such a dull, boring and as my uncle said, "sheltered" life. I also had a mom and dad that broke their neck to give me every opportunity I could have. They gave me a safe place to sleep at night, food on the table, taught me to be responsible, etc. What more can a kid want?

This girl just wants a mom and dad to take care of her, to give her a place to lay her head at night. She needed someone to talk some sense into her, and tell her not to do this. Before we were done, I tried to give her a bit of encouragement, that it would get better. That even though it looks tough right now, SHE has to make good choices, and I knew she could do it. I tried to direct her to some help in her area, but the story isn't finished.

Before leaving, she told me that my kindness had made her cry, and that I must be the best mom ever, I let her think the last part. She then asked if she could text me again. I replied with, "Of course, after all, you have my number now!" I hope for her sake, she gets a break. Like a lot of other kids out there, that's all she needs. The right break, the right place, the right time...the right people to lend her a hand.

My kids also think their lives are boring, sheltered and well, just blah. But tonight, I will send them all to bed knowing that we're doing something right, we're giving them a life that tells them we love them, we'll be happy to shelter them, and if they call, we'll always answer.