LORI WEBER MENKE: Supermom vs. high-tech world

Welcome to the world of a high-tech Supermom.

I wish I could say I always wanted to be a high-tech Supermom, but this is far from the truth. My idea of being a Supermom is making supper -- not ordering out. And I wish I can say being a Supermom includes baking homemade treats for my children, but really who I am I kidding here, I do that for me.

The rest of the stuff like reading to them, helping with homework, making sure they are clothed and bathed are really chores and have nothing to do with my Supermom aspirations.

But in this high-tech world, being a Supermom has evolved. And as the mother of two tech-savvy young men, it is a challenge to say the least.

Oh yes, I can still win them over with the right meal for supper, but dad can do that too just by ordering a Deek's pizza. I realize I must step up my game.

And so enters the world of Minecraft.

If you are a parent who allows their children the privilege of tech gadgets, you have probably heard of Minecraft. If you haven't, allow me to explain.

Imagine a world of virtual Legos. Your children can build houses, explore, grow different crops, craft tools, etc. etc. This is the exact definition from the Minecraft website: 'Minecraft is a game about placing blocks to build anything you can imagine. At night monsters come out, make sure to build a shelter before that happens.'

See what I mean -- virtual Legos.

I asked my youngest to explain the monsters. This is what he told me: "Creepers, zombies, skeletons, spiders and pigmen. You can fight them or just go to sleep. If you fight them you need a sword. They can kill you, but they are not scary. But if you don't want to fight them, you can just go in your house and go to bed."

Our children begged us to allow them to get this game for the iPad and like any good Supermom would do I caved.

Then, they asked us to allow them to get the version they can use on the laptop. And Supermom caved.

Then came the question every Supermom dreads. "Mom can you build us a server?"

Now, I love my iMac and all my Apple products and they love me. But our laptop is a Dell -- yes a PC. And as anyone in our I.S. department at the Herald will tell you, PC's and me don't get along. But this high-tech Supermom was determined to build a server using a PC. After all every Supermom needs her kryptonite.

So, my tech-savvy children decided to help Supermom out. They Googled and YouTube'd and off we went into the world of servers. And after what my sons might describe as "many" YouTube videos and a few choice words directed at the laptop, which earned me the privilege of putting money into the swear jar, I -- high-tech Supermom (with the help of two boys) created a server.

Insert fantastical superhero sound effects here.

Needless to say, high-tech Supermom received many hoots and hollers of appreciation when the server actually worked. Phew! Thank goodness this lady is ready to hang up her cape, put her apron back on and get back to baking some homemade goodies and ordering out for supper.

Until next time,

Supermom

Weber is a super-mother of two and Multimedia Manager for the Herald. She can be reached at loweber@gfherald.com or (701) 780-1113.