Those Crazy Kids

Do you have kids? Do you work with kids? Do your friends have kids? Do you sometimes behave like a kid? If you can say yes to any of those questions you really have to read on. I am going to reveal something that may surprise some of you. Now, some of you may have surmised this at some point on your own, but perhaps I will enlighten a few. If, in fact, a few people even know this blog exists, which I doubt. Here it is: If your kids are acting crazier, moodier and louder than normal look at the moon. It will probably be full and if it is not full that night, it was the night before or will be the next night. Seriously. Now, I am not a Wiccan and I do not worship mother earth; however, everything in nature revolves around cycles and, dear reader, we are a part of nature. If the moon is not the culprit pay attention to weather forecasts. Whenever the weather changes, the kids go wild. Usually it is from hot to cold where we, as teachers, observe the most extreme behavior. And it really does get extreme. Those of you not in the school system would be shocked at the havoc a cold snap can wreak on a middle school. Which really makes me think of what happens in the spring, but  I won't even go into the whole twitterpated thing now. I'll save that for a spring post. Suffice it to say - blame it on the moon. That crazy moon.

Mom of a Middle School Kid

Not only am I a teacher of middle school children, but I am also the mother of one. Next year I will be the mother of two and, with five kids, it will just snowball from there. 'Raising kids today is harder than it was when my parents raised me", I hear this phrase often. I'm sure it's been said since the dawn of time because raising kids is indeed more difficult than being one. And, in this world of constant change we can not rely simply on our own experiences as a child to raise our own children, though that can enhance it. There are things out there today that my parents did not have to worry about - internet being the main one. However, I prefer to look at these things as tools to make my job easier instead of seeing them as making my job more difficult.

My parents were pretty naive. They were oblivious about the movies I watched, the music I listened to, and the books I read. I don't think they considered the impact it was having on the person I was becoming. I don't blame them really. They are great parents. I just think that, with their fond memories of childhood, they were not aware of what I was doing. There was no PG-13. There was no parental advisory tag on my music. Books were not labeled YA.

Now, when my children express interest in a song I can google a line, any line and all of the lyrics magically appear on my screen. I love it! Then I can say, and do often say, we won't be listening to that song again and no, you can't buy it. When my children beg to watch the newest movie out in theaters I hop on to imdb.com and read through the parental advisory section before I give a yes or no. I love it! With Netflix movies that download I can see everything they have watched and with Netnanny I can keep them from as many unsavory websites as possible. I feel like there are many safety nets in place to help me do my job as mother. I suppose this is my 'glass is half full' thinking on a subject that I know worries so many parents. There are tools and people out there to help parents raise their children in today's world. Get out there and educate yourself so you can be their anchor!