Tag: Privacy

It’s pungent. Foul. Overwhelmingly offensive. It’s the first thing you notice when you walk into the room, and the only thing you think about until you leave.

You know what I’m talking about. It’s your kids—they smell. But somehow, despite the stench, they don’t seem to notice it. How is that possible?

Though we want to believe that proper hygiene is something that comes naturally, it’s a learned behavior and not something kids automatically pick up. It’s up to us as their parents to teach them.

Right up there with evil stepmothers rank manipulative mothers-in-laws. In a survey conducted by iVillage, some daughters-in-law stated that they would rather undergo a root canal procedure than spend time with their mothers-in-law. Since I am a mother-in-law myself, and one who did not have a particularly good relationship with my own mother-in-law, I made it one of my priorities throughout the years to find out what the major complaints were against this much maligned group symbolized by Marie Raymond on the popular TV sitcom, "Everybody Loves Raymond." Here are the complaints:

Just a decade ago, the idea we could control our home’s climate with a single thermostat that could also learn our day-to-day habits to maximize our energy use was the thing of science fiction. Today, gadgets like smart thermostats make smart home climate control not just doable, but a mainstream option for energy-savvy homeowners. The smart home industry shows no signs of slowing down either; and according to Gartner, 8.4 billion connected tools were projected to be in use by 2017, up 31 percent from 2016. With that many connected devices flooding the market, how will our connected devices play a role in how we live our lives at home?

No parent ever wants to consider the possibility that their son or daughter could be one of the mean popular kids at school, those who shun and dismiss anyone who’s different. I call them Elite Tormentors, and the caring, compassionate popular students who stand up for the underdog, Elite Leaders.

What are some of the warning signs your son or daughter may be in danger of turning into an Elite Tormentor? Pay attention to your child’s demeanor on the phone. Does it sound like he/she is making a joke at someone else’s expense or gossiping about another student?