According to my daughters, many of the girls in their class think I’m cool. I’m not exactly sure why, but I’ll take it.
That said, I’m definitely uncool in certain areas.
The other night, Andie’s friend called to tell her that the 15-year-old girl on “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” had her baby on the show. Evidently some of the girls in their 5th grade class are allowed to watch this show — mine are absolutely not.
If that makes me uncool, so be it.
I’m honest with my kids. I explain to them why I don’t let them do certain things. I define my personal values and how they affect my decisions. I think kids respect that because taking time to clarify makes them feel respected and valued. My kids know I love them, that I would do anything for them, that their welfare is one of the most important aspects of my life. They also know that they can talk to me about absolutely anything and I will always be truthful with them and tell them as much as they are able to handle.
Trust and respect between a parent and child is vital. A good relationship cannot exist without these two components. Trust and respect also pave the way for good communication, another critical aspect of parenting. I want my kids to grow up feeling that they can discuss anything with me, even the hard stuff, and know that even if I may be disappointed or angry, I will do my best to listen to and help them.
To me, that’s the definition of a cool mom.
Are you a cool mom? Decidedly uncool? Or something in between? Explain.
I hope I’m a cool mom. My son doesn’t get to do/get away with things that some of his friends do, but we have fun and his friends all like to talk to me when I pick him up and drop him off at school. This morning as I was leaving, one of his friends followed me to the door talking to me while my son happily played.