Raising Teenagers

Teens and Interpersonal Communication: Not Very Personal Anymore

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I’ve been thinking lately about the “lost arts of communication” that are becoming almost extinct among our nation’s youth.

The most obvious, that has been going downhill for many years, is handwriting of course, both print and cursive, as our kids are asked to turn in school papers almost exclusively printed by a
computer once they get into middle school/junior high. They don’t write letters to cousins or “pen pals” anymore– a Facebook message will do just fine, and even summer camps have computers now.
E-cards have replaced birthday cards, e-vites have replaced invitations…so when they do get the chance to use their handwriting, it doesn’t look that great– most elementary schools these days find
little room in their curriculum for perfecting printing or cursive. (I actually took Allison to a couple of private handwriting classes when she was in 6th grade, I was so concerned at what I was
seeing– it helped a little.)

Dallas …

Raising Teenagers

The Texas Teen Driver Written Test: Could You Pass?

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My 16-year-old finally got her learner’s permit the other day, taking over six months to finally complete the 6 hours of required online
reading she had to do before applying (remember, we’re doing “parent taught”). Based on the guidelines from the course we purchased, and the TX Dept. of Public Safety’s online instructions for
getting a driver’s license, I told her she wouldn’t have to take a written test until she actually applied for a license, and a driving test then, too. Luckily, two days before we were to go in
to apply for the permit, I found out, from another mom, that I was wrong.The written test was required for the permit. “But it probably won’t be a big deal,” I told her. I
couldn’t imagine they’d make it hard on someone who is just getting started learning to drive, who hasn’t even been …

Great Books to Read, Kids and Media, Movies, Travel With Kids

Pottermania: What a Fun Ticket to Ride It’s Been

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We all have “I remember when” things we can say, that vary depending on our age, when it comes to historical
events that we’ve experienced. The day Kennedy was shot, the first moon walk, personal computers become a household item, 9/11…history-making events and milestones are happening all the time.
But not every generation can say they grew up amidst the worldwide excitement and hysteria over something creatively great, as it’s being created. For example, lots of people will
continue to love the music of The Beatles, but only some can say they grew up looking forward to every Beatles record release or being one of the first in line at the record store to buy
those releases, or saw the Beatles in person, “live in concert”.  And many people will continue to love J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books and watch the movies on DVD, but only some will be
able to say …

Being a Better Parent, Giving Kids Some Freedoms, Sharing and Venting

“Good for the child” is not always good for the group

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Emmie spent every afternoon last week at a girls’ science and engineering camp at Southern Methodist University
(probably the best bargain on that campus—only $50 for the whole week, and two days included lunch!). She really enjoyed rubbing elbows with professional female engineers, learning more about the
different types of engineering, working on projects, and making friends with girls from all over the Dallas area and even from as far away as Houston, ranging in age from 12-18. The only thing she
didn’t like about it, which she complained to me about every day, were the girls who talked all the time to each other and didn’t pay attention, making it hard for the few that wanted to pay
attention. And unfortunately, there were only a few who really wanted to pay attention. Emmie says that on the first day, when the facilitator asked each girl to tell the group why …

Kids and Money, Raising Teenagers

A Tale of Two Phones

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Can I get my phone today? Can I get my phone today? Can I get my phone today? Can I get my phone today? Can I get my phone today? Can I get my phone today? Can I get my phone today? Can I get my phone today? Can I get my phone
today???

More than we heard, “Are we there yet?” on our recent road trips, the question/pleading/mantra/broken record of “Can I get my phone today?” has been
heard daily around our house, and in stereo, since Cleo went back to France on Monday.   We were able to get a new, free phone from our cell phone plan when Cleo arrived last summer
(she paid us monthly for calls/texting), and both Emmie and Allison were hoping it might become theirs when she left.   Emmie has never had her …