Moms Talk Round-Up: Saying No, Summer Planning and Worried Kids

Each week, our Patch sites ask area moms, dads and grandparents to chip in on questions posed by mom councils in Moms Talk.

This week, St. Louis area parents sounded off on children and social media, accepting the word “no,” fears, and planning.

No Means No: Haley Morgan wrote: Telling your kids "no" is one of the biggest gifts you can give your children, and I think one of the hardest things to do as a parent. I have always told them that it is my job to tell them “no” sometimes because I love them. If they in turn tell me I am the meanest Mom ever, then I simply respond with a smile, " I must be a good Mom. Thank You." I think we often fall prey to wanting to make our kids happy all the time when in fact good parenting is sometimes just the opposite. I always used to say if I don't hear the words " I hate you" from my kids once in awhile then I not doing my job.
- In Clayton-Richmond Heights Patch/Ladue-Frontenac Patch

Plan of Escape:
Mary Lee wrote: We do not have any kind of plan in place at our house in the event of a fire. It's just one of those things that seem to slip through the cracks. Now that we're in a two-story house, it's probably even more important to prepare for an emergency and discuss escape route in the event the stairway is blocked.
- In Creve Coeur Patch

Making Time for Fun:
Layla Azmi Goushey wrote: We have more plans than time, but one of my sons would like to take hip-hop lessons at Wildwood Dance and Arts. We are also planning guitar lessons for my other son and possibly a trip somewhere. There is a birthday party to plan, and I will be working, too. We will also attend Relay for Life at LaFayette High School. My biggest hope is to have lots of time to relax at the pool.-In Eureka-Wildwood Patch

Weather Woes and Worries:
Anita Branson wrote: My best friend’s kids use to obsess over the weather. If the sky started to change color, they were headed inside and freaking out. I found for them that when they got used to seeing my daughter and I not reacting to the changes and explaining to them what to actually watch weather-wise, their fears eventually settled down.
It is good to shelter your child to an extent. Though sometimes sheltering them too much can make the fear worse. Speak to her honestly, it never hurts to consult someone to ask how to proceed. I know I turned to a counselor several times with my own child's fears. Good luck.-In Lake Saint Louis Patch

No Tweeting Until You’re Grown:
Trish Feldt wrote: I don't allow my kids to have much access to the computer, but they are only 6 and 8 years old, respectively. I have been thinking about this though, and I think I will have to follow the individual policy for the site. For instance, Facebook requires all users to be 13 years of age. To monitor their usage, I will make sure that I am their "friend" or follower on the site. Not only to keep tabs on what they are doing, but I also want to teach my children that they need to use caution when they post things. If they don't want me to see it, then it shouldn't be posted in the first place!
-In O'Fallon Patch