| From the time my sons were young, I tried to embed into their little brains that they would get in more trouble for lying about something than for the thing they were lying about. "We don't need to lie in this family," I would say. I know, I know. As if that would work, right? I'm sure all the parenting experts reading that will say all the things I did wrong in that one moment. But the truth is, I was trying to tell them that we could be honest with each other. I worried that lies when they were little would lead to bigger things down the road: that they wouldn't tell me or my husband something really important. Call us when they needed a ride from a crazy party. Tell us about heartbreaks. I wanted them to know they could talk to us about anything. That honesty was always the best policy, and to only trust people who tell the truth. Here's the reality: Kids lie. And so this oh-so-informative piece this week really helped me understand that — even now, as I stare down the beginning of the teen years in our house. Read on, have a good weekend, stay well and we'll talk to you next week. |
Parenting in a Pandemic These are challenging times for any parent to navigate. Let On Parenting help. Below you'll find a selection of expert advice and personal stories for all types of parents. To keep up with The Post's best advice for living through a lockdown, including recipes to make, shows to watch, the best socializing apps, resources for parents, guidance for managing anxiety and tips for canceled trips, bookmark Your Life at Home. And the latest on school reopenings can be found on The Post's Education page. For vaccinated parents with unvaccinated kids | Vaccinated adults may have more freedom. But for kids, 'the rules haven't changed.' For parents dealing with virtual school | Strategies to improve distance learning | Tips for creating a good learning environment at home | How parents can avoid anxiety around distance learning For parents dealing with in-person school | How to help children adjust to masks, according to experts and parents | As kids move from quarantine to school, separation anxiety may follow. Here's how to help. For parents working from home | 6 strategies for parents struggling with work-from-home interruptions For parents looking ahead to post-pandemic life | The pandemic changed everything about family life. These are the parts parents want to keep. |