Kids Using my Computer.... AARRGGG!

[Frogge]

I just had to vent a little about the kids taking over my computer. We have 2 household laptops -- but DH uses his computer primarily for -gaming- (another story) so it's off limits for regular use. Usually it's fine, I have parental controls, etc.. we've gone over rules of what you can and can't do.. I get home today and my background is changed, my desktop items have been mysteriously 'consolidated' .. I had to clean my cache and everything to get it to run at normal speed.

Needless to say, all 3 kids pointed the finger at each other and don't know what could have happened.. so everyone has been grounded until they tell me the story. They are colaborating in a huddle as we speak.

[Bandit]

They are colaborating in a huddle as we speak.

How can we help not to chuckle. I think it is cute, at least this once

[Frogge]

Oh, yes, LOL... it is worth a chuckle. Especially the way they pulled together after my scolding and got their story together. They came to me as a very hesitant, somber group with a 3-part story, each took a turn very quietly explaining thier part. It was cute, I had to stifle a snicker.

The kicker was that my wallpaper background was changed to "Chicken Joe from Surf's Up". LOL You gotta love 'em.

[justplaintired]

Oh how well I can relate. We have a older laptop, works fine and we keep it up to date..., kids use it more then we do. Also we have a home computer, kids use it more then we do.... Last week, I get on the laptop and guess what, it's so messed up it barely functions. Kids turned off all security, virus scanner, said it ran too slow, spyware, who knows why they shut this off, but they did. This computer was loaded with crap and slowly we were losing everything, we had some Trojan overtaking everything. Thank goodness they have a mom who knows enough to fix it. I spent almost a whole day getting it going and cleaning it up. Now time is limited and no more games online. I think that's where most of the crap came from.

Oh and then after a lecture on taking care of things, limiting time...., they decided to have a wrestling match on top of the laptop! Unbelievable! Yeah I love em, most of the time anyway!! LOL

[Frogge]

Ah, yes.. they love to turn off the spyware.. LOL... DH is right now trying to fix an older work computer for them because mine has been officially confiscated.

[AngelinaCat]

Ms. Frogge: the kids will keep on doing it, because they can. They are testing the limits of their abilities--and learning while they are doing so--how do you think HACKERS are made?--and YOUR patience.

If DH's laptop is not an issue, the best foolproof way to safeguard yours is to pack it up each and every day and carry it out to work with you.

I know that will be inconvenient, but the children need to learn some boundaries about what is yours, and may be touched, and what is yours, and may NOT be touched.

Good luck to you.

[MomIcantFindmy]

I was laughing. I had a similar situation. When my kids got on my computer and messed it up I found cheap used computers for them (which they have yet to mess up) LOL. I password mine and no one gets on it. I told the kids that if theirs messed up due to them then they got to foot the repair bill. Seemed to work.

It is amazing how they can fight against one another but the moment my DH or I are perceived as the enemy they bind together as an unstoppable force. It makes me laugh..sometimes.....

[AngelinaCat]

Would anyone here like to adopt a 41 year-old god-daughter that is acting like the numbers are reversed?

http://www.bkforum.com/showthread.php?t=26137

[lrprn]

Ah, yes.. they love to turn off the spyware.. LOL... DH is right now trying to fix an older work computer for them because mine has been officially confiscated.

Have you tried setting up an administrative password only you and hubby know that must be entered on start up? No password, no working computer

This kept my gamer teenager son out of my laptop back in the late 90s - might be worth a try. I didn't care if he messed up our old desktop at the time - he could game there to his heart's content. And he had to teach himself how to fix it if he goofed it up. He tells me now (he's 27) that he's glad I did that - he would have never learned his way around a computer as well otherwise.

[fltoo]

[QUOTE=lrprn;176029] glad I did that - he would have never learned his way around a computer as well otherwise.


OMG this is too funny as it hit close to home. I used to take the mouse off the computer and hide it.

Older son learned to use the comp without a mouse.

Became an integral part of his future career.

[Frogge]

Well, my computer is in my room -- off limits -- so I'm cool for now. They said they were sorry, and DH loaned his with specific instructions.

My teenager's computer had some problems with a Trojan a year or so ago and my husband found he had gotten around parental controls and gone to some.. eh-hum, websites. Man, you should have seen the look on his face when DH said --- so is this "XXXX dot com" some sort of a cultural website for school? LOL

[Cali]

This is why my kids have their own computers.

[my4devils]

When does school start?? My boys had totally taken over my computer......until my dad came through and got them a Wii. Thank goodness for Pop-pops, now I have my computer back!

[justplaintired]

When does school start?? My boys had totally taken over my computer......until my dad came through and got them a Wii. Thank goodness for Pop-pops, now I have my computer back!

LMAO!!! I know exactly, computer use by the kids tripled once school got out for the summer.

We now keep the laptop where kids can't be tempted, they actually have to ask to use it and sit at the kitchen table when they do. They can't watch TV, surf the net and talk on the phone all at the same time anymore!!! Suddenly they aren't bugging for it anymore. My kids are good at multi tasking, it's amazing.

And now, I can actually get on the laptop anytime I want.

[Cali]

justplaintired - My teenagers are like that. They have computers on, TVs on and they are txting. And they see these kids everyday. LOL