Posts Tagged ‘parenting’
| Newer Entries »“The Font of Youth” © 2010 Lynn Rebuck
Wednesday, September 29th, 2010
Last week a 13-year old girl won $50,000 in a national texting championship in New York City. To win the top prize she tapped out a verse of “Old MacDonald” on her cell phone in only sixty seconds besting several other teen girls in the competition. I’m guessing that the next thing she did was text her friends to tell them she won. How difficult is it to type “E-I-E-I-O” over and over? Thanks to having keys tinier than Tic Tacs on my cell phone I unintentionally tap out those lyrics every time I send a text message.
Like it or not, texting is increasingly becoming the preferred method of communication for teens. We parents were encouraged as youth to let our fingers do the walking. With an estimated 20,000 text messages being sent per second by kids under age 18, our offspring’s fingers are clearly doing the talking.
I have a phone with a QWERTY keyboard, which is the traditional set-up with individual keys positioned as they are on a computer keyboard. It helps somewhat. I think I am the only person that texts with a lisp. I still make lots of mistexts.
Since text messaging condenses words, omits most vowels, and uses unique shorthand, it can be difficult to decipher. What we need is a Rosetta stone for text messages. For instance, see if you can figure out this well-known message:“4 scr & 7 yrs a/g, r dads brot 4th on dis cntnt nu ntn.” Do you recognize it as
Tags: cell phone, Communication, funny, humor, motherhood, parenting, Technology, teens, text messaging, texting
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Welcome Back to School, Please Sign Here © 2010 Lynn Rebuck
Monday, September 13th, 2010
As a mom, I always dread the ton of homework that I get assigned on the first day of school. There is always a sizeable stack of forms for me to review, complete, and sign. There used to be fewer, less complicated forms when kids started back to school. Now I need a paralegal to help me fill them all out.
First I encounter numerous classroom contracts which my son and I need to sign in triplicate. Some need to be notarized. We must stipulate to standards for classroom behavior, attendance, and homework completion. I am sending my son to school this year with counteroffers.
Next I must complete the (more…)
Tags: Back to School, classroom, Emergency Contact, forms, funny, humor, motherhood, parenting, School, teachers
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“The Longest Day?”by Lynn Rebuck© 2010
Thursday, June 24th, 2010
As I write this column it is Monday, June 21. According to a post on Facebook, which I confirmed in the finest journalistic fashion by consulting Wikipedia, it is the longest day of the year.
I beg to differ. The longest day of the year is the day after school lets out for summer vacation. It is amazing how much boredom kids can condense into one 24-hour period.
Technically, June 21 is known as the summer solstice, the day when there is the longest amount of daylight. It is the opposite of the December 21 winter solstice, the day when my kids have the most lights turned on throughout the house.
The day after school let out last week was indeed a long one. (more…)
Tags: Children, coping, funny, humor, Kids, longest day, motherhood, parenting, parents, School, solstice, Summer, summer solstice, Summer vacation, Vacation, vacations
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Talking with High-Tech Teens ©2010 Lynn Rebuck
Wednesday, March 24th, 2010
Anyone who has raised teens or been around a teen for more than a few minutes knows this universal truth—teens truly speak a different language. And today it’s harder than ever to get their attention.
How do you communicate with a kid who is simultaneously text messaging on a cellphone, playing Guitar Hero, and battling on World of Warcraft?
Teens today are (more…)
Tags: Communication, Facebook, funny, humor, Internet, Kids, motherhood, parenting, Social Networking, teens, Twitter
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Motherhood is a Dirty Job!©2010 Lynn Rebuck
Wednesday, March 17th, 2010
Last week in my column I challenged Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs” host Mike Rowe to tackle the dirty job of being a mother (see “Dirty Jobs, Ha!” below). I haven’t heard back from him yet, but I have been checking out some of his episode descriptions on the “Dirty Jobs” Discovery Channel website and let me tell you, so far I’m not impressed. His jobs don’t seem all that tough, or dirty.
For instance: “Mike ventures out to discover what it takes to breed and train sled dogs at the Happy Trails Kennels in Big Lake, Alaska.” Wow, Mike, “ruff” job? Try this.
“Lynn tries to potty-train a puppy and a toddler at the same time, only to discover she set the child out front and re-Pampered the puppy.”
Or consider another (more…)
Tags: Children, Column, Dirty Job, Discovery Channel, funny, humor, Job, Kids, Mike Rowe, Mom, motherhood, parenting, Television
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Dirty Jobs, Ha! © 2010 Lynn Rebuck
Saturday, March 13th, 2010
I don’t know what the big deal is about Mike Rowe, the host of The Discovery Channel’s show “Dirty Jobs.” A man goes around doing disgusting jobs and they give him and Emmy nomination. A woman does the same and she’s lucky if she gets a Mother’s Day card.
Let’s face it, for years we women have been doing unthinkable and thankless jobs without any fan mail and without the backing of a big-time budget of a cable TV show. On his website, Rowe solicits suggestions for dirty jobs that he can undertake on camera. Mike, here’s my suggestion: try being a mother.
Mothers learn early that (more…)
Tags: Dirty Jobs, funny, humor, Jobs, Kids, Mike Rowe, Mother's Day, motherhood, Mothers, parenting
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Non-Traditional Holiday Traditions © 2009 Lynn Rebuck
Saturday, December 12th, 2009
I decided that I might not be cut out for traditional Christmas traditions after our collapsing gingerbread house was condemned under a local ordinance. Most families have holiday traditions. Some seek out and saw down the perfect pine tree. I am allergic to evergreens. Many bake batches of Christmas cookies. I am allergic to baking. (more…)
Tags: family, fun, gumdrop, holiday, holidays, humor, motherhood, parenting, popcorn, recipe, teens, traditions
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Operation Mommy Freedom ©2009 Lynn Rebuck
Friday, November 6th, 2009
It’s an emotional time of the year for mothers. The same women who gathered nine months ago outside the elementary schools and waved tearful good-byes to their little ones as they headed into school now stand arm-in-arm for support, bite their lips, and hold back tears for a different reason: the last day of school.
Mothers who not long ago wondered how their little one would cope with the separation anxiety are now curious as to how they themselves will survive the attachment anxiety.
There’s nothing quite as frustrating as (more…)
Tags: Children, funny, humor, Kids, Life transitions, mother, motherhood, parenting, School, Seasons, Summer vacation, swimming, Transitions, Vacation
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Post-Traumatic Dress Disorder © 2009 Lynn Rebuck
Friday, November 6th, 2009
Each spring, at the start of prom season, high schools across the country hold assemblies to encourage student sobriety. Mock accident scenes feature mock victims, mock DUI drivers, and real emergency responders.
Nothing, however, prepares parents for sobering reality of prom gown shopping.
“Mom, I need to get a dress for the Spring Prom,” my daughter announced one day after school.
“It’s only September,” I said. “You haven’t even memorized your locker combination yet.” . (more…)
Tags: dress, fashion, Fashion trends, motherhood, parenting, prom, prom dress, School, shopping, teens, Trends
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In Search of the Holy Grill©2009 Lynn Rebuck
Friday, November 6th, 2009
The Memorial Day weekend traditionally kicks off the summer barbecue season, which means I now get to burn dinner outdoors, under the watchful eyes of the neighborhood wildlife, and the native animals.
Given the difficulties I have in grilling, it’s hard to believe that I am descended [...]
Tags: Barbecuing, Children, Cooking, holiday, parenting, Seasons, Summer, teens
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