Is Twitter too short for you to get your point across?

Is Twitter too short for you to get your point across? For many teens, however, even Twitter’s 140 characters are still “way too much info”.

As the Mom of a teen-aged son, I should be so lucky as to have the luxury of his attention span for 140 characters. For example, when my son asks,
“What are you doing?”
I might say something like
“Oh, I’m making some caramelized onions for hamburgers and just to have on hand for later. We can use them for—”
Then I hear
“That’s enough, I get it” and he’s out of earshot already. I hear the screen door slam.
Teens want to know what’s going on but not too much and they want to be involved in family life but not too much.

When my son asks the meaning of a word in the book he’s reading, anything longer than a one word synonym is met with a glazed look.

Sometimes he asks a question and as I am opening my mouth, before I have uttered a syllable, I hear
“Never mind...”
Oh well, it’s not about the knowledge I am imparting; it’s about the fact that he’s still ostensibly seeking it in the first place.

And a seemingly simple question, like
“When’s dinner, Mom?”
actually might require a little out loud thinking on my part, such as
“Well, your sister is working the night shift and Dad’s running late so by the time we bbq I’m thinking around...”
If I get this far, I get a look that says ‘please skip to the end of the tape...’

Sometimes as parents we tend to see a question as an opening for conversation but that’s ambitious when you’re dealing with teenagers, I’ve found. We have to be careful we don’t stem the flow of questions by what they consider ‘over sharing’. And any info, if not specifically requested, can be superfluous.

Well, I’m glad that I’m learning to stop talking mid-sentence and that the questions keep coming. As long as they do, I know that the lines of communication are still open.
And when college rolls around again in a few short weeks, I will treasure all these brief moments, as fleeting as the summer days themselves.

Doone Estey
August 2009

Tips: Safer School Supplies

Just as back-to-school shopping kicks into high gear, Environmental Defence has released a PVC-Free School Supply guide!

Polyvinyl chloride (also known as PVC, or vinyl) is used to make a lot of back-to-school products. PVC is a concern because it has dangerous chemical additives, including phthalates, lead, and cadmium. These chemicals may evaporate or leech out of PVC products, and may contribute to developmental disorders and damage of the liver, central nervous, respiratory and reproductive systems. Recent studies have linked PVC flooring in the home to increased rates of autism and asthma in children.

The good news is there are lots of school supplies that don't use PVC. That's where the guide comes in. Published by US-based Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ), the guide helps you choose safer, PVC-free supplies. Many of the safer alternatives listed (including brand-name food and beverage containers, backpacks, computers, shoes, and some writing supplies) can be easily found on store shelves across Canada.

Want a list of PVC-free school supplies? You can download it for free right now.

Too many lists? Follow this general advice when hitting the stores this summer:

• Look for non-plastic products whenever possible
• Steer clear of products labelled with the words "vinyl" on the packaging (e.g., vinyl 3-ring binders)
• Don't purchase products with the #3 recycling symbol, or with the letters "V" or "PVC" underneath the recycling symbol (remember that bad news comes in #3's, don't buy PVC)
• Call or email the manufacturer or retailer and ask what type of plastic their product is made of if you are uncertain - you have a right to know.

You can share the PVC-Free School Supply guide with your friends and colleagues - just send them a link to our blog.

Safe shopping,
Your team at Parenting Network

Birth Order - Is it the biggest contributor to personality?

Birth Order is a fascinating topic and certainly hits the headlines on a regular basis. The question on everyone's mind is - does Birth Order predict personality or is it more a self-fulfilling prophecy? Listen to Beverley on 640AM radio today at 3:00pm EST as she helps unravel this question, and provides best practice ideas for parents!