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The Surprising Journey of a 37-Year-Old Mom on Roblox

2024-11-26

It turns out that I have embarked on an unexpected adventure in the digital realm. I am no longer the person I used to be, but rather a "fashion maven" in the world of Roblox.

Uniting Families Through the Digital Realm

Discovering a New Hobby

I never thought I would become a fan of video games. In fact, the last game I played seriously was my Super Nintendo in the 1990s. But then, I discovered Roblox. This game became a new hobby for me, and it brought me closer to my daughters than ever before. We play Roblox together a few times a week, and it has become a special time for us.We style outfits based on different themes and give each other ratings. It's a fun and creative activity that we all enjoy. And even though I'm not a natural at it, I've learned to embrace the challenge and have a great time with my girls.

Spending Quality Time with Kids

As my daughters grow older, it becomes harder to find quality time together. School, sports, and life in general get in the way. But Roblox has given us a way to connect and have fun. We huddle in my home office, snacking and playing together. It's a simple pleasure that means a lot to us.I've realized that sometimes, we have to meet our kids where they are. And in this case, that means being on Roblox with them. It's not about the game itself, but about the time we spend together.

The Importance of Giving Time

In today's busy world, it's easy to forget the importance of spending time with our kids. We're all caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, and quality time can be hard to come by. But as Dr. Daniel Amen says, spending 20 minutes a day with our child doing something they enjoy can make a big difference.At church, the children's minister also emphasized the importance of taking interest in our kids' hobbies. It may feel forced at first, but it leads to meaningful connections. That's why I downloaded Roblox on my laptop. I wanted to give my girls my time in a way that they would enjoy.

Selfless Quality Time

Quality time doesn't always have to be glamorous or exciting. Sometimes, it means doing something that may not be our first choice, but is important to our kids. Playing Barbies or watching Spiderman might seem boring to us, but it means the world to them.By meeting our kids where they are and giving them our time, we create memories that will last a lifetime. And who knows, we might even discover a new side of ourselves in the process.Take the time to be with your kids. Do the things they enjoy. It's worth it. The years fly by, and we don't want to miss a moment.

The Grinchmas toy drive is an annual event that brings joy and hope to children and families during the holiday season. This year, it will take place on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Kiss & Makeup Full Service Studio (38011 LA 621, Gonzales). The event aims to collect new, unwrapped toys to be donated to Brennan’s Blessings, a southwest Louisiana nonprofit.

Salon Owner's Inspiring Journey

Salon owner SarahBess Brown has been organizing this seasonal event for four years. Initially, the donations benefited Toys for Tots. However, after her cousin's battle with cancer and passing away, she decided to switch to a more local charity that her cousin was involved with - Brennan’s Blessings. This charity was created in honor of Brennan Daigle, who passed away in 2011 after battling rhabdomyosarcoma. It helps families of children with cancer. Brown and other volunteers load up the toys, donations, and bikes and bring them to the organization using a rental truck.

Brown started the Grinchmas event to inspire happiness around the holidays, especially for those facing added stress. She said, "And now that we’re doing something for kids with cancer, it really helps families and kids that are already dealing with something that’s just unimaginable on a daily basis. It brings even more hope and just a glimmer of light into a situation that a lot of people can’t even fathom."

Growing Donation Success

Each year, the Grinchmas event has been able to bring in more toy donations. Last year, they had 12 overfilled, tall boxes full of toys. This year, the event will have a raffle for the first time. All proceeds from the raffle will go to Brennan’s Blessings. For $5 a ticket, entrants can enter the running for a 13th Gate Escape game (up to 8 players), a prize valued at $281.47. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time or during the event. The drawing will be held at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 7, and the winner does not have to be present to win.

Those who bring in a new toy for donation can take a photo with the Grinch for free and leave with a photo in hand. The Grinch interacts with all the guests, along with a "Santa princess" who is also a local author. Other characters like some Who’s will also be present this year, making it a fun and enjoyable day for children and adults.

Ways to Contribute

For those who can't attend the event or wish to contribute in other ways, there are plenty of options. They can send toys to the salon via Amazon, contribute cash, or become a sponsor. Brown said the community always comes through for this event.

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A 27-year-old graduate student was recently discovered using pictures of real children on the internet to create AI child porn for pedophiles. This heinous act not only made my skin crawl but also led me to ponder a question that I've been encountering more and more frequently. "Kim, I don't want pictures of my kids on social media. How do I tell friends and family without coming across as preachy?"

Your Kids, Your Rules

It is completely reasonable for you to want your kids' faces off the web. The fact remains that creeps often scan public accounts in search of children to prey on. Moreover, it has become easier than ever for pedophiles to pose as kids and groom your child on platforms like Snapchat and Roblox. Posting your kids on Facebook or Instagram essentially gives Meta the green light to use those images to train its AI models. Unfortunately, the law is lagging behind in this regard. As parents, it is our responsibility to safeguard our children.Related: Stop Facebook from using your data to train AISocial media applications on an iPhone screen. (Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Keep Things Drama-Free

Avoid an awkward situation by informing people before a gathering. Most people have good intentions, but they may not be aware of the risks associated with sharing kids' photos online, especially if they are not parents themselves. This is about you and your kids, not about them. Use "I" and "we" statements and avoid telling others how to parent. Share your reasoning or simply send them a link to this story. Be clear and firm and leave no room for ambiguity when it comes to public posting. Have the conversation one-on-one, either via email or text, in a private setting rather than in a group message.SMARTPHONE TRICKS EVERY IPHONE AND ANDROID USER SHOULD KNOWI've prepared an example for you to copy: "Hey, I wanted to let you know in advance that we'd like to keep photos of the kids off the internet for privacy and safety reasons. (We came across some stories that really scared us!) If you could refrain from posting pics of them on social media, we would truly appreciate it!"Related: The secret to get better pics of you and your family

If It's Already Posted...

Don't panic. Reach out to the person as soon as possible and ask them to remove the post by providing a link to the specific post. I recommend using text for this rather than leaving a comment on a public post, as it may feel like you are publicly calling them out. Use this message: "Hey, I completely forgot to mention this, but we are keeping pictures of the kids offline for now. Could you take this post down or repost it with their faces hidden? An emoji works great!"Related: Posting pics of kids on social media: Do’s and don’ts

The Safest Way to Share Pics with Friends

Not sharing photos of your kids publicly doesn't mean you can't share at all. My suggestion is to create an invite-only album for close family and friends.In Google Photos: You can do this on your phone or computer. Just open the Google Photos app or website.On a computer: Click Photos and select the photo you want to share. At the top, click the + icon > Shared album > New shared album. Add a title, then hit Share. You can choose to create a link, search for contacts or share on social media.On mobile: Tap the + icon > Album. Name your album and add the photos you want to share. Select Get Link to generate a private link, add specific email addresses or share through a messaging app or social media.Finally, make sure the Link Sharing toggle is off for maximum privacy, so only invited users can view the album.In Apple Photos: You can create and share on your iPhone, iPad or Mac using the Photos app.First, you need to enable Shared Albums.On iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos, then turn on Shared Albums.On a Mac: Open the Photos app. From the menu bar at the top, choose Photos > Settings. (In macOS Monterey or earlier, choose Photos > Preferences.) Select the iCloud tab, then Shared Albums.Now create and share your album.On Mac or iPhone/iPad running iOS 18: In Photos, scroll down to Shared Albums > Shared Albums > Create. Add a name, images and then choose people from your contacts, type an email address or add iMessage phone number. Tap Done.On iOS 17 or earlier: Go to Albums > + (add button) > New Shared Album. Add a name, images and then choose people from your contacts, type an email address or add iMessage phone number.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPGet tech-smarter at your own pace. Award-winning host Kim Komando is your go-to resource for navigating the tech world.Copyright 2025, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved.