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Moms Column

Friday, November 9, 2012

The Growth Chart: Growing Kids, Growing Parents

What's New Under the Sun? Kids (and Adults) and Social Media, Part V: Voices

All of us have a "Life in the Middle" story to tell. Today those stories can be spread exponentially through social media. And I say, let the Voices be heard.

This week, I listened as some young teachers reflected on some of the names they’ve been called lately. Though their conversation was lighthearted, I know from experience that no matter how many times we shake the dust from our sandals and walk on, we still limp just a little from the words that have been hurled our way.   Instantly, I remembered the words a student wrote in his journal about me some 20 years earlier, when I was a 22-year-old high school teacher: “Mrs. Noble is a skinny, flat-chested b****…” Though I didn’t share that specific memory in the staff lunchroom, I did say to my young counterparts: “Unfortunately, you will probably remember some of those comments 20 years from now. But try to forget what you can. The words don’t…

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

What's New Under the Sun? Kids (and Adults) and Social Media, Part IV: Words, WORDS, WRDZ

As a "Word Person," I can't help but wonder if SSEWBA. If so, will I still be able to talk to my kids?

The Conversation  U up? Yep. <3 Texting ALAP. TYVM. :) HUD? Good. HBU? M$UlkeCraZ. Want 121, F2F. Not 2nite 4sure. L?^L8R? 2moro? COBRAS? Lol. Not sure. LHOS. Now. IYD! Yep. DISTO? JK. Sort of. FOGC? RMMA.   BTWITIAILWY. ? CUWTA. LOL. Looked it up. Aww…that’s sweet. ;) Still, IDK… AUNT—u can trust me. TBH, B4U I never would've…but 1432. It will b ok. FTFOI? I will delete right after. KPC. WDYT? WRU? IDK…In my room… J Send me a Pic? Plz? GNOC? GOI. UR cra-cra. GNSD. No. Let’s GOWI. IPN. Sending u a pic now. NVNG…SHMILY?   The Grade Patch Parents, if this were a test, would you make the grade? How much of this conversation did you get?     Take <3, B4 2day, my answer would have been: “Not much.” If u2 would earn an “F” in text-reading, you’d…

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