'Little kids hop right in your lap when they want you. Big kids, including teens and tweens, are more awkward.'
Your kid might come sit near you in the living room while you're watching TV. They might remove their earpods while riding with you in the car. They may stand in the doorway of the kitchen while you're cleaning or cooking . They might leave the door of their bedroom open. Any of those could be a little sign.Ross notes that her kids were great at appearing next to her at significantly inconvenient times, including after she had already drifted off to sleep.
It's like birdwatching: No sudden moves! Don't chase them away! Take this moment to breathe in the fact that they are near. "The most important thing for parents is to not shut down potential conversation with 'I'm busy now' or 'I was sleeping, can't this wait until morning?'" Ross says.If they're a mostly-silent apparition like my son, you might have to speak first. Scan their face and read their body language before you take a stab, Ross says.
What we all know is fairly useless to try: "How was school?" For some reason, no kid wants to respond to that one after about third grade. On the other hand, you might have a chatty kid who just starts talking about something inane. "They may start a conversation, but about something vastly different from what they actually want to talk about," Ross says. They'll start in about the Kardashians, for instance, but eventually work their way around to a problem with a friend."Don't interrupt, don't give advice, and don't ask questions," Ross says.
While they're talking, you can, of course, listen to what they're saying, but also look at them to determine how they're feeling: excited, disgusted, or anything in between. This is your chance to read their mood and state of mind and offer support. And for teens, "support" mostly meansIt's not right after school. "They're tired, they're overwhelmed by their day, and they need to relax by not talking or responding," Ross says.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'Why Does My Kid Behave Better for Other People?'It's actually a good sign if your child feels comfortable enough to misbehave around you but tends to be on their best behavior for other people. vanessalobue explains why.
Read more »
Free Speech Absolutist Elon Musk Bans College Kid Who Annoyed HimElonJet, a Twitter account that tracked Elon Musk's private jet using public data, has now been suspended just a month after Musk said he wouldn't ban it.
Read more »
Musk Bans, Then Threatens to Sue Jet-Tracking College KidUPDATE: The 20-year-old college student who runs elonjet, told The Daily Beast in an evening interview that he hadn’t yet received any legal notice from Musk or his representatives.
Read more »
Elon Musk threatens legal action against college kid whose account tracked his jet - AutoblogTwitter restored the ElonJet account then took it down again after Elon Musk said a 'crazy stalker' had followed his son.
Read more »
I Love '90s Movies, But I Will Never Let My Kid Watch 'My Girl'This classic '90s movie left me emotionally scarred, and I hope history won't repeat itself with my kid.
Read more »
15 Gifts Your Truck-Obsessed Kid Will CherishIf your little one loves playing with trucks and cars, they will adore these creative presents. From toy trucks to cool cars and more, shop the best gifts.
Read more »