My family has just returned from a fantastic weekend with my parents, 3 siblings, their spouses and all my nieces. We were together in the home I grew up in for my mom’s 70^th birthday party. We had a big party for about 50 people, but the best part of the weekend was us, just being together.

My mom and dad have 11 grandchildren between the ages of 14 and 8! All but two are girls and they all had such fun together, even my two sons!! It is wonderful seeing the next generation get along together so well. It makes me realize that we learn about parenting from our parents, mostly what to do, but a little of what not to do also! I suspect our kids’ll be the same…not wanting to repeat the mistakes we make as parents, but also emulating what we are doing right.

Before the party I went through lots of old family pictures, some of my mom when she was a baby! I had them scanned onto a CD and made a copy for my parents and siblings. My 13 year old son was able to help his technologically challenged mom by making the CD into a slide show with captions and music. It was a great tribute to her and a good chance to collaborate with him!!

You are not going to believe this....there is evidence that my 11 year old daughter actually listened to me and followed my advice!!  She was playing in a tennis match Saturday against some girls who were beating her and her partner and generally acting nasty!  My DD suggested they "kill 'em with kindness!"  She came home and told me all about it and how it worked!!  She said it frustrated her opponents because she and her partner were being so complimentary and wouldn't stoop to their nasty behavior! 

My daughter received this suggestion from me about a month ago when she was dealing with a troublemaker in school.  And guess where I got the advice...that's right...from my mom, about 35 years ago when I was my daughter's age!  Some advice is timeless!!

I have been reading a lot of information lately about communicating with boys.  My son has just started middle school and it seems that we talk less and less.  Part of the reason is that he doesn't get home until 5:45 and has sports a few nights a week.  These are the tips I have picked up and thought I would share them with you.

-      Listen to the little stuff. (Pokemon Cards, Nintendo DS, etc.)

-    Find opportunities other than the dinner table to talk.  Talk while you are preparing dinner or while your child is doing another simple task.  

-    Ask their opinion about things, they will in return be more willing to ask your opinion about something.

-    Don't finish your children's sentences for them.  Let them complete their thoughts and don't interrupt them.

In writing these tips I realize that they may also be a better way to communicate with our husbands.