I Haven’t Been In A Chat Room Since 1996

on June 1, 2011
in All Posts

I spent the evening chatting with the girls on the New Moon site (not related to Twilight). 

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New Moon is a safe, educational, ad-free site for girls ages 8-12.  Activities on the site include moderated chat rooms, discussion forums, and reader submitted art, poetry, and videos.  My favorite part of the site is the Ask a Girl page where the girls can submit Q&As about all sorts of issues.  Highlights:  “What do I say when my friend is mean to me?  I’m nervous about my period!  How do I stop myself from focusing on my mistakes?”  And since it’s all moderated by adults, everything is safe and fun. 

 

Anyway,  I was the special guest for the chat room tonight; we discussed all things Operation Beautiful-related!

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If you’re a parent or know a girl that might like New Moon, you can buy them a membership (it’s provided for a fee to keep ads off the site). 

 

Since I worked so late, the Husband got takeout and brought it to me to eat on the couch.  Just standard Thai fare:  a spring roll and tofu cashew nuts with rice.

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I had an orange for dessert.

 

Goodnight, friends!

{ 53 comments }

 

  • April @ Grits and Granola Bars June 1, 2011, 9:17 pm

    That site is so cool! I hope there is still things like that around when my girls are older. 🙂

  • Melanie @ Trial By Trail June 1, 2011, 9:23 pm

    What a great site! And that pic is making me hungry!

  • Liv @ The Salty n' Sweet June 1, 2011, 9:35 pm

    It’s so nice to hear about an open and safe space for young girls to talk about whatever they have on their minds and what they’re going through. If I knew about an outlet like that when I was little, I’d jump at it! Instead, I spent my childhood playing Disney.com games 😉

  • chelsey @ clean eating chelsey June 1, 2011, 9:46 pm

    I used to belong to a site like that when I was around 11-12! It was so so sooo helpful!

    • Carin June 1, 2011, 9:48 pm

      Ha ha Chelsey – you make me feel sooooo old – there were no sites (or even internet) when I was around 11-12 – just one computer in the whole school!

  • Babs June 1, 2011, 9:48 pm

    Yum to the Thai . . . now I want some!

  • Amy June 1, 2011, 9:49 pm

    I wish that had been around when I was that age! I would have loved it.

  • Cynthia (It All Changes) June 1, 2011, 9:53 pm

    I love that there is a site like this now. As a kid I was on basic chat rooms but they scare me today.

    And I’m sure the girls had a kick talking to you.

  • Jen June 1, 2011, 9:57 pm

    So awesome to know that there are safe sites like that for kids to visit – and even awesomer that it’s for girls in that age group cuz it’s such a tricky time. Good for you for giving your time to answer their questions!

  • Chloe (South Beach Girl) June 1, 2011, 10:01 pm

    I didn’t even know they made chat rooms anymore 😉

    But really, what a great way to keep girls connected thru the internet without having to worry about predators or bullying or harmful ads. So good to see sites like that!

  • Holly @ The Runny Egg June 1, 2011, 10:03 pm

    That is a cool idea for a site — and I like that there aren’t any ads.

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) June 1, 2011, 10:07 pm

    You blow me away with how great you are! I love what you do and how you share yourself with all of us! Thank you Caitlin!

  • Jess@atasteofconfidence June 1, 2011, 10:07 pm

    Great that you are helping out young girls!

  • Tracy @ Commit To Fit June 1, 2011, 10:13 pm

    I love the idea for that site! I think it is has been a long time since I have been in a chat room too 🙂

  • Courtney June 1, 2011, 10:15 pm

    How cool is this?? I will tell the group of girls I teach at church about this! They are 5-6th graders and would love it 🙂 I am sure they enjoyed talking to you!

  • Gina @ Running to the Kitchen June 1, 2011, 10:18 pm

    That site sounds great for young girls, much safer than the chat rooms I remember!

  • Mary @ Bites and Bliss June 1, 2011, 10:35 pm

    Cute! I remember chat rooms. Thankfull that one looks much more kid-friendly that most.

  • Sana June 1, 2011, 10:56 pm

    So happy they have SAFE chat rooms! Awesome job!

  • Kiran @ KiranTarun.com June 1, 2011, 11:34 pm

    What a cool site to motivate kids! Awesome, got to share this with others 🙂

  • Kate (What Kate is Cooking) June 2, 2011, 12:12 am

    I love the idea of a positive chat room for girls. After seeing To Catch a Predator too many times, I swore to myself my children would never step foot near a computer!

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing June 2, 2011, 12:15 am

    That site sounds such like a GREAT idea!!
    And that dinner.. you’re not helping my craving for Thai!

  • Moni'sMeals June 2, 2011, 12:37 am

    cute photo Caitlin! great idea and so cool for those girls!

    yumm on that dinner. 🙂

  • Chelsea @ Go Chelsea Go! June 2, 2011, 12:38 am

    What a great site! I wish I would have had a resource like that when I was young–especially since I switched schools and moved states during that time in my life.

  • Amy @ love4living June 2, 2011, 1:00 am

    That site = awesomesauce. Good to know there are positive ways for young girls to express themselves and have an outlet…
    I actually thought about OB and young girls affected by the media as I was writing my post today… A little relief to know things like this exist!

  • Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife June 2, 2011, 1:05 am

    hey that is a cool site! I will def pass that on!

    And your dinner looks amazingly good 🙂

  • Khushboo June 2, 2011, 1:16 am

    I remember dabbling in chat rooms but I’d often leave because there’d always be those 1 or 2 trolls who would throw out dirty/unneccessary comments! I’m glad I was wise enough to NOT participate!

  • Cait @ Beyond Bananas June 2, 2011, 5:43 am

    That site looks awesome!
    I used to chat room it up circa 1996 too! The best chats were private chats on aol with your friends. hahah

  • Katie (Sweet Tater) June 2, 2011, 6:21 am

    did anyone else used to chat in freezone?? the rooms were marked with red, yellow and green stoplights to indicate when they were full, almost available and available. haha, i’d sit there for HOURS waiting for one to open up so i could jump in and sit for HOURS more talking to strangers.

    • CaitlinHTP June 2, 2011, 8:25 am

      hahaha no, i did the aol chat thing. sounds fun though.

  • Angela June 2, 2011, 7:02 am

    That website looks like a fantastic idea. It’s great that you are giving up some of your time to be a part of it. Oh, and it seems like you are still doing the “no cursing challenge” and TV diet. Is the “Eat-In” challenge over? I thought you were coming up with some really creative meals and time savers. As always, thanks for everything you do 🙂

    • CaitlinHTP June 2, 2011, 8:20 am

      I think, in general, the eat-in challenge made me better about eating in! But I’m definitely eating out now again on a weekly basis. That challenge did get me to pack more meals; always a good thing! 🙂 Thanks for reading!

  • Hillary June 2, 2011, 7:14 am

    I love the idea of that site. I’m a middle school teacher, and I think a LOT of my female students could benefit from a safe haven like New Moon. Thanks for sharing; I’m going to pass it on!

    • CaitlinHTP June 2, 2011, 8:19 am

      Thanks Hillary!

  • Molly @ RDexposed June 2, 2011, 7:33 am

    The website probably gets so many hits for Twilight crazed fans, hahaha. But what an amazing place for girls to go to feel safe!

  • Brittney June 2, 2011, 8:24 am

    I’ve probably told you, but I met Greg in a chat room! #Imoldschool Hahaha 🙂

  • LizAshlee June 2, 2011, 8:35 am

    New Moon sounds like a great resource for girls, especially at that age!

    Have a wonderful night!

  • Baking N Books June 2, 2011, 8:49 am

    What are spring rolls like? I’ve never had Thai food and should be more adventurous.

    Just read about your TV Diet…ugh – I really should do that…I just had cable set up and now am feeling guilty about all the excess channels…it’s a promotion for 2 months free – so if I think it’s ridiculous – then I’ll cut it out – so I don’t have to pay for it…Lord knows I need the money.

    • CaitlinHTP June 2, 2011, 9:02 am

      TV is so expensive!!

      You should try Thai – so good. Spring rolls are fried rolls with veggies on the inside. You can’t NOT like them, promise!

  • Katherina @ Zephyr Runs June 2, 2011, 9:07 am

    Man I wish I knew about sites like that when I was trollin’ the internet at that age! I was one of those girls that used to lie in chat rooms and have internet boyfriends… I have no idea how I survived!!
    Oh and congratulations on this TV Diet – I’m in the same boat as you, I could lessen my tv consumption but my boyfriend absolutely could not. We’d have to compromise and just play frisbee all the time since that’s something we both love equally 😛

  • Ali @ Ali Runs June 2, 2011, 9:11 am

    This seems like such a great idea! I wish this kind of thing was available when I was younger!

  • Stacy June 2, 2011, 9:13 am

    This is totally off the subject of this post, but I just want to tell you, that during my figure competition prep, I drooled over your yogurt bowls. I couldn’t wait for the day when I could try making my own! They are now my post cardio meal DAILY! Love them!! Today’s bowl: Non-Fat Plain Chobani Yogurt, toasted oats, strawberries, Gluten Free Peanut Butter Puffs Cereal and a honey drizzle! Thank you for the idea!

  • Ellie@fitforthesoul June 2, 2011, 9:40 am

    Wow~it’s encouraging to see such great ideas like these in the midst of so many things out there that “taint” young people.

  • Jenny @ Fitness Health and Food June 2, 2011, 9:49 am

    What a fabulous idea! I love that you are sharing Operation Beautiful with the younger girls! 🙂

    mmm take out… 🙂

  • Michelle June 2, 2011, 9:50 am

    I SO thought were in a Twilight themed chat room last night when you tweeted something about it. I just thought, “Man she is really bonding with her audience” (for the upcoming book that is). Hee!

    It’s so awesome that they have something like this! It’s so hard to control all of the crap kids see/can access today on the internet. You can only have your eyes and ears on so much – it’s great that there are safe, reliable, but still “cool” things for kids to check out!

  • Jamie aka "Sometimes Healthy" Girl June 2, 2011, 10:09 am

    What a great idea! Sometimes I feel like all I see out there is the negativity that the internet has brought into young people’s lives. So I think it’s great that something like this exists.

  • Dianne June 2, 2011, 10:23 am

    I used to get the New Moon magazine when I was a kid! It was like American Girl magazine but for nerdy bookworm girls like me. That’s actually what started my interest in being vegetarian. I’m glad it’s still going strong!

  • Running With Mascara June 2, 2011, 10:33 am

    I had never heard of New Moon before, but what an amazing site! I love that there are safe places for young women to go on the Internet and feel like part of a community!

  • Amber K June 2, 2011, 11:16 am

    I totally remember chatting online back in the day on AOL. Back when every time I said “ttyl” I’d have to explain what it meant to people! lol

  • Kate @ Walking in the Rain June 2, 2011, 11:35 pm

    I had a subscription to New Moon for girls when I was younger. I actually think I was a bit too old for the magazine but there wasn’t a similar mag for older teens. (Sassy had folded by that point.)

    The magazine also is add free and very girl powered. I remember more about what I read in New Moon than I do from the other girls magazines I read at that age.

    I’m glad they have a web component now. I would have loved that when I was younger.

  • postcollegecook June 3, 2011, 12:00 am

    I used to get the New Moon magazine when I was a tween. Glad to see it has adapted with the times 🙂

  • Nancy Gruver June 3, 2011, 9:35 am

    Thanks to Caitlin for chatting with some of our members on New Moon Girls – they’re spreading Operation Beautiful in their lives, too, now! And great to hear the positive comments about what NMG is doing – please do spread the word – it’s our best way of making sure we’ll be here to support tween girls. And especially great to hear from those of you who got our magazine when you were young – check out our FB page to see the latest: http://facebook.com/newmoongirls

  • Jaylene June 22, 2011, 10:30 am

    Great stuff, you hleepd me out so much!

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