“I didn’t get that. You must have lost reception for a minute,” Mom says confidently into the phone. “Say it again.” I’m not on a cell phone, and this is the third time mom’s asked me to repeat myself. I swear I’m not whispering. So why can’t she hear me?

I repeat myself, telling mom the funny thing that happened to my little one at preschool today. I finish my story. Mom pauses silently for a moment then says, “I didn’t get that. You must have lost reception again.” I sigh the indisputable sigh of a frustrated grown child. “Mom,” I say in an all-too-annoyed voice, “I’m not on my cell phone!” Embarrassed, she apologizes. I fake another call and tell her I have to go. I don’t hang up because I’m annoyed. I hang up because I’m sad. My parents are getting older, and it absolutely breaks my heart. It’s devastating to recognize that you officially have aging parents.

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If you were to meet my parents, you’d say they were pretty remarkable. At 81, Dad still goes to the gym every day and does yoga twice a week. He’s rarely sick and still works full-time. He and Mom travel around the world, sometimes for a month at a time. Mom has the energy of the Energizer Bunny, does water aerobics twice a week, and has a remarkably busy social life that includes book clubs, theater dates, and five-star restaurants. She spends a good portion of the year jet-setting between the three states in which her daughters live. But neither of my aging parents can hear a word I’m saying.

I’ve never been worried about my dad’s dips into old age. He was always kind of an old guy even when he was young. His hearing has always been questionable, and his driving has never been stellar. In fact, his family nickname was “Lead Foot Larry” in reference to his deep love of hitting the brakes just hard enough to crack all your ribs.

But it was always him. Dad was always the old man. Not Mom. She was always young. There was never a chance she wouldn’t be here.

Now that she’s starting to show signs of aging—at a remarkable 75, I might add—I’m faced with the reality that someday my mom isn’t going to be here. I can’t imagine a life without Mom. She’s the center of our family, like a magnet keeping us all together. She sends my kids mail from the Tooth Fairy’s grandparents and never misses an event at their schools. She’s always got the answers. She’s always been healthy. She’s always been there.

So I’m going to enjoy her. And him. Knowing my parents, they’ve each got 20 more years of trips in them, and I’m getting worried for nothing. But just in case I’m not, I’m going to do a better job of not getting annoyed and being as kind to them as they’ve always been to me. And when all else fails, I’ll blame their aging on my cell phone, even if I’m not on it.

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Social media is an integral part of our lives and as a result, parents have had to turn to parental controls to help navigate the complexity of the online world. To protect children from the potential risks and hazards of the digital age, social media parental controls are now more important than ever. Here are various types of social media parental controls that empower parents to provide a safer online space for their children.

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In a world where everything from setting up playdates with mom groups to keeping up with your kids’ school assignments, everything is done via social media. And in today’s digital age, since our kids are online regularly, ensuring their safety should be our top priority. The likelihood that our kids will come across harmful content online or be exposed to threats or cyberbullying is significant. Here are some tips and strategies to help caregivers monitor social media usage to ensure a safer digital environment for our children.

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When we don’t talk about things, our tweens and teens notice the silence. That may be one reason why 71% of today’s teens ages 13-17 thought that periods were scary before experiencing it — and 77% of students believe that there needs to be more in-depth education about menstrual health (State of The Period survey). Silence can create uncertainty. So it’s time we start the conversation, because we can help the next generation choose to be more comfortable with their periods.

Moms across America, like Carly Anderson, Ana Flores, and Cara Cochran agree. They recently joined a number of other moms across the US to work with Thinx Teens to help destigmatize something that half the population experiences every month. Timed to the back-to-school season, this campaign fits into Thinx’s overall goal of ensuring teens are supplied with period products at home and school.

The post Moms Say We Need to Change the Way We Talk About Periods — Including at School appeared first on Mom.com.

It’s one of those things that can sneak up on a parent when they least expect it; your child is going through puberty. Your son is growing up, and your first sign it’s happening? A strong whiff of unpleasant body odor as he runs past. Wasn’t it just yesterday that you were cuddling up and nuzzling in to take in that sweet baby smell? Not so much anymore, as your baby boy starts to look, sound, … and smell, like a man.

So, when do boys hit puberty, and how can you help your not-so-little-anymore son navigate this tumultuous time in his life — while also trying to make it through unscathed yourself?

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I love this time of year, but I miss how into Halloween my three teens used to be. I legit tear up when they bring out the Halloween costumes in Target. We used to get lost down those aisles for hours deciding what they were going to be that year.

However, as our kids get older, we can still celebrate with them. That just might not mean eating their candy after they’ve gone to bed on Halloween, but there are some fun ways we can hang on to the magic just a bit longer with our teens.

The post How to Celebrate Halloween With Your Teens When They Are Over Dressing Up appeared first on Mom.com.

Sometimes, it’s hard to know the right words to say to your teenager, but tucking these affirmative phrases for teens in your back pocket for a rainy day might just help you connect.

Parenting teens can be very emotional. After all, doesn’t it seem like just yesterday you were your kid’s hero and could do no wrong in their eyes, but now it feels as if you’ve become either the villain or the annoying sidekick in your teen’s life story?

The kid who once ran to you with open arms and stars in their eyes and gave you an enthusiastic hug now slithers past you to their room or rolls their eyes when you try to talk to them.

What’s a parent to do?

Affirmative Phrases for Teens: Why They Matter

The whiplash of the teen years can be a shock and teens can get a bad rep, but the truth is, being a teen in today’s world is hard.

Many teens are struggling with mental health issues and trying to find their place in the world.

This is why it’s arguable that teens need your support now more than ever before. We all thought those early formative years were the most vital, but the time you have left with your teen is more finite.

Some days, I can almost hear a clock ticking away the moments I have left to make a lasting impact before my kids are out the door and into adulthood.

Parents of teens, it’s time to reframe our thinking.

Teens are not monsters or the enemy. They are actually the most vulnerable they’ve ever been as they attempt to take the leap from child to adult… and they may no longer view your arms outstretched to catch them when they fall.

Here are five affirmative phrases for teens to try out. They may help improve your connection and make the most of your time together:

The post 5 Things All Parents Should Tell Teens on a Regular Basis appeared first on Mom.com.

TRIGGER WARNING: This post contains information about abuse and drug use, which may be triggering to some.

I grew up in a broken household, surrounded by the lifestyle of dysfunction that comes from 50/50 custody. I knew I was different in more ways than one. I was born with a birth defect and diagnosed with dyslexia and attention deficit disorder at a young age.

I was completely uncomfortable with who I was and never felt like I belonged. I was molested by a family friend between the ages of 8 and 12. I was constantly bullied and needed a way to self-medicate from my internal agony.

The post How to Tell if Your Teen Is Secretly Abusing Drugs — Tips From a Former Teen Addict appeared first on Mom.com.

My kids swore that “everyone” had a cell phone before they did. I was unapologetically that mom who held off, as long as possible, from handing my kids their own device. Part of my choice was fear, but the other part was knowing the harsh realities. Once you hand your child their own phone, there’s no going back. However, we live in an age of technology, and at some point, parents will cave.

Just because you’re considering allowing your child to have their own phone, it doesn’t mean all hope is lost. There are steps that parents can take to ensure our children’s safety and well-being. My family has implemented all of these, and yes, it’s been helpful.

The post 6 Things Every Parent Needs to Do Before Giving Their Kid Their Own Cell Phone appeared first on Mom.com.

This is the first year both of my kids will be in school full-time. So my emotions are ranging from, “Mah babies! No!” to “Drinks are on me!” These last days of summer, especially, are getting a little … rough, shall we say? (If you aren’t nodding, please tell me your secret.)

But while I’m looking forward to having a regular routine again (and a regular writing schedule), I will miss the long, lazy days of summer with my kiddos. (No, really, I will! In a few weeks.)

What I dread most about back-to-school season is constantly feeling rushed and unprepared. There is a saying that goes, “Start as you mean to continue,” and it’s one I’ve followed since my kids were babies. So in the interest of starting the school year off on the right foot, here are my back-to-school hacks to make my life (and hopefully theirs, as well as their teachers’) a little easier. With preparation (and a little luck), this school year will be a great experience for all of us.

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