Parenting

Explaining cursing and foul language to children

Colorful Language

  • Posted on April 16, 2014
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That's the term Dex uses to refer to cursing. "Colorful language." I am not even sure where he picked it up, but he is not very fond of it. "He is annoying. He uses colorful language all the time." The funny thing is, I have quite the potty mouth myself, although I have tried hard over the years to curb it in front of Dex. And generally, we have not made cursing an issue around the house. We have always talked about it in terms of consequences.
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Tweens To Teens: Becoming An Adult

He Thinks He’s An Adult Now

  • Posted on April 4, 2014
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That's a bit of an exaggeration but Dex is 11.5 - apparently the exact age that pushes a child (mine, at least) from tween peckishness to full on tween angst. He's a great kid. He'll be a great kid through his teen years and into adulthood. I have full faith in that. He's just entering that time when he is becoming his own person and most importantly, separating from us. Part of that separation includes thinking he knows everything and thinking we are annoying, weird, and embarrassing.
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Non-Communication During Travel

  • Posted on February 11, 2014
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How do you stay in touch with family while out and about? As in, when one parent travels for work or fun, and the other stays home with the kid(s). Many friends have complained about this dilemma: you call in and the kids get all riled up... a mixture of missing you, bummed they aren't there, excited about where you are. And then the other parent is left to pick up the pieces. When Dex was younger, this was a real problem for us. Phone calls were awkward. Trying to explain what was going on in the middle of conferences was disjointed. Me? Personally? I get so overwhelmed with all the people that it's hard for me to concentrate on a conversation in a hallway with traffic buzzing back and forth around me.
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Dance Anxiety

  • Posted on January 27, 2014
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"Can I stay home from school on Friday?" Dex asked; we didn't know what to say. "There is a dance for 6th graders and 90% of my friends are staying home so they don't have to go." Everything came rushing back, as if I was…
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Talking To Your Teens About Drug Use

Talk To Your Tweens & Teens About Drugs

  • Posted on November 19, 2013
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It happened. Kids at Dex's middle school were allegedly busted for pot. I say "allegedly" because I have only heard it from my kid, but that is not really the point. Our conversations about drugs have gone to the next level nonetheless. One of my…
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The Sarcasm Gene

  • Posted on October 14, 2013
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Dex is off school so we let him sleep in, but just went in and woke him up for the day.Me: Did you hear all that thunderstorming this morning???Him: No, I was ASLEEEEP.Me: Awwww, you got the sarcastic gene!!Him: I don't know WHOOO I would…
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I Don’t Want Any New Friends.

  • Posted on October 7, 2013
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OK. That's not exactly true.Especially since I just got back from the I Heart Faces Conference and made several lovely new friends... and everyone should always be open to new people in their lives. But generally. I am 43, my son has started middle school…
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