Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Tips to Be a Tricky Parent
Even though my age tells me I'm a full-blown adult, there's still a part of me that sides with the kids. For example, a few of the approved tips that have come into DayTipper recently have me feeling kind of bad. Almost like I want to warn kids what their sneaky parents are up to.
Cynthia in Corpus Christi, TX is definitely a tricky mommy! Here’s her advice:
Stay informed with this little trick. Next time you drive your kids and their friends somewhere, turn up the volume on their favorite radio station on the REAR SPEAKERS and listen. They'll talk louder to each other to be heard over the music, but you'll be able to hear everything. Kids may only tell you some things but they tell each other everything. It will give you insight into what things they are into or dealing with.
The question is: Do you really want to know?
Megan in Valparaiso, Indiana might not be the most popular mom come graduation time. While some kids will toss their caps and rip open iPods and get behind the wheel of a new car, she has some more practical advice:
High school graduates really don't need another picture frame or coffee mug. A great gift is a medicine box. Put a thermometer, cold medicine, ibuprofen, Band-Aids, and other essentials in it. They will love having medicine on hand while they are away at college.
It sounds almost like parents buying themselves some peace of mind!
This next bit of family advice from Eric in Nicholasville, KY is indisputably effective. However, as someone who watched mom throw away Barry Bonds rookie cards and assorted He-Man figures, it makes me wince.
Haven't seen your kid's floor in awhile? Tell them that they need to clean their room and put a box next to the door. Give them an amount of time to clean their room and tell them that whatever is still on the floor goes in the box and the box goes in your closet for a week. They'll test you on this so, parent, do your part and keep that box out of reach.
Perhaps one day I'll grow up... ¶ 1:00 PM
Cynthia in Corpus Christi, TX is definitely a tricky mommy! Here’s her advice:
Stay informed with this little trick. Next time you drive your kids and their friends somewhere, turn up the volume on their favorite radio station on the REAR SPEAKERS and listen. They'll talk louder to each other to be heard over the music, but you'll be able to hear everything. Kids may only tell you some things but they tell each other everything. It will give you insight into what things they are into or dealing with.
The question is: Do you really want to know?
Megan in Valparaiso, Indiana might not be the most popular mom come graduation time. While some kids will toss their caps and rip open iPods and get behind the wheel of a new car, she has some more practical advice:
High school graduates really don't need another picture frame or coffee mug. A great gift is a medicine box. Put a thermometer, cold medicine, ibuprofen, Band-Aids, and other essentials in it. They will love having medicine on hand while they are away at college.
It sounds almost like parents buying themselves some peace of mind!
This next bit of family advice from Eric in Nicholasville, KY is indisputably effective. However, as someone who watched mom throw away Barry Bonds rookie cards and assorted He-Man figures, it makes me wince.
Haven't seen your kid's floor in awhile? Tell them that they need to clean their room and put a box next to the door. Give them an amount of time to clean their room and tell them that whatever is still on the floor goes in the box and the box goes in your closet for a week. They'll test you on this so, parent, do your part and keep that box out of reach.
Perhaps one day I'll grow up... ¶ 1:00 PM
