parenting

Parenting To Yourself

  • Posted on December 16, 2014
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Bryan stayed home with Dex for the first two years; it's always given them a special bond. I have never been jealous (OK, maybe just a little), but I have always attributed their ability to get along to time spent and compatible interests. Not to…
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Michael Brown Ferguson

Talking To My 11 Year Old Son About Ferguson

  • Posted on August 18, 2014
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Our son will be 12 next month and for the most part, except for his premature beginnings, his life has been relatively stress free. As parents, we try to keep it that way, but we also feel it is our job to tell him about the world. We've always shared news at age appropriate levels. He's known about September 11 since very early on, especially since his birthday is close to that date, but in general terms. His school has been great; talking about tragedy with increasing detail as his maturity grew. However, we have been at a loss how to explain the happenings in Ferguson, Missouri, this week. Yes, we told him what happened to Trayvon Martin. Yes, the legal system failed Trayvon as much as the vindictive racism of George Zimmerman. But in Ferguson, there are so many things I can't even believe, how do I explain it to my kid?
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Summer Camp Growing Up

Empowering Tweens To Stand Up For Themselves

  • Posted on July 10, 2014
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Dex is at summer camp in the park again this year. It's had its ups and downs this time around, partly because he is at the upper age limit for the camp. He still loves hanging with his friends, swimming, crafts - all that summer camp stuff. But he is getting really frustrated with the methods of some of the counselors, who are treating them like kids half their age. Recently he got in trouble for something and was sent to time out. Fine, except they never really explained what he did wrong. Partly because it's a big camp full of kids running around like maniacs in the sun, but partly because they just don't seem to understand that the older kids will want to have more explanation.
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Summer Fun Pool

Summer

  • Posted on June 11, 2014
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One thing they don't tell you about being a parent is that summer returns. Especially when your child gets into the tween years and runs around the neighborhood with their friends all day. I remember the joy of the last day of school so distinctly.…
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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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Cell Phone Contract for Tweens and Teens

  • Posted on May 31, 2013
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As I mentioned yesterday, the kid is more and more online. This is highly due to the fact that we went ahead and gave him a phone. {Insert sigh.} It was a bit earlier than expected, but in some ways, it was the best time.…
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