by Kerrie McLoughlin
As parents, we want to keep our children safe, and cell phones seem to promise to do just that. But at what age does a child become responsible enough to be able to handle all that might go along with a cell phone, like texting, the Internet, minutes and charges, manners and more? And what guidelines do you need to have in place before handing over that phone?
by Kerrie McLoughlin
I think many of us can relate to Deanna, mom of three girls (one a teen), when she said, “Dating? Not my babies!!!” My own first date happened when I was 16 ½, and my parents were hard-core: if I missed curfew by 1 minute I was grounded for two weeks (I was grounded quite often). For me, 13 or 14 would have been too young for dating because boys still freaked me out then, and I had no siblings to learn from.
Many parents take the issue of teenage dating on a case-by-case basis because every kid is different. Some are more mature at age 15, while some may not be ready for a first date until age 19. “We don’t have a set age yet for dating, and our oldest is 14. I think a numerical age is way too hard to pinpoint because of different maturity levels. I do see being a responsible driver as somewhat related to being able to handle dating,” said Wendy Budetti, mom of five.
Group Dates
Most women love to shop and many of us have a shoe obsession, especially when seasons change. We want new sandals for summer in a variety of colors and in the fall we may buy new boots in black and brown or maybe even a pair of the trendy fuzzy boots! As the holiday season approaches, there are shoes to match a Christmas dress and new shoes to compliment the perfect New Year’s party outfit.
As you can imagine, new shoes can add a spring to anyone’s step, but a disorganized shoe collection can generate frustration in locating the right shoe at the right time. In the closets we organize, shoes end up on the floor in piles, stuffed between clothing, or thrown in a laundry basket. Some shoes do find their way onto a shelf or shoe rack, but often it’s not pretty and it certainly isn’t a complete storage solution for most people.
