Middle schoolers are more than capable of handling “serious” chores, so consider assigning yours some of the following:

Making dinner. Your child shouldn’t have to feed the family every night, but how about once a week? Go over kitchen safety and meal planning, and then have him get started.

Laundry. If he can reach the knobs on the washer and dryer, he can do his own laundry. Just show him the basics first, such as how to run the machines and measure detergent.

Pet care. Insist that he be responsible for his own pet. If he forgets to feed his pet before going to bed, wake him up. Teach him that caring for another living being is an enormous responsibility.

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Good Discipline Includes Love & Respect 

Your child is driving you crazy with preteen attitude! How should you handle her? As hard as it may seem, try to handle her with respect. When she acts up, keep in mind that:

You should set a good example.  Model the behavior you want to see in your child. When she sees you reason your way to a good decision, she’ll be likely to do the same herself.

You shouldn’t shame her. When your child messes up, it’s natural to be disappointed. But it’s not okay to insult her. Saying, “What’s wrong with you?” won’t improve her behavior - it’ll only hurt her.

She can learn from her mistakes. If your child does something wrong, try to see it as a learning opportunity. “You didn’t study for your test and you failed. What can you do differently next time?” Talk with your child about her options, and really listen to what she says. Instead of just punishing her, you’ll give her a chance to think of a solution.

She may want your input. If your child is struggling with something, she might welcome advice. Ask if you can share one of your experiences. “You know, I had a hard time getting along with my eighth-grade English teacher, too. Would you like to know how I handled it?” Just talk about your experience, don’t lecture. On the other hand, if she doesn’t want your advice, don’t force it on her.  
Let her know when she gets it right. Did your child resolve a situation without misbehaving? Let her know how proud you are of her. “You were angry with your teacher, but you talked to him without losing your temper. Way to go!”

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Greetings from PCN
 

The first weeks of school have flown by.  It seems that as the days grow shorter, they also become busier!  Is your family caught in a whirlwind of school, work, sports, activities and social events?  Sometimes it’s too easy to lose track of each other, and of important messages we want to share. 

We encourage you to make the time to connect with your child, sharing your expectations and values about their behavior.  While many of us may have grown up in a time when underage drinking was accepted or overlooked, that isn’t how today’s world operates.  Underage drinking is not just illegal.  It is also dangerous, leading to long-term health and behavior problems, accidents, other risky behavior and even death.

We all want our children to grow up into healthy, happy and productive adults.  One of the most important things you can do to help that happen is to make clear your feelings on underage drinking. 
Enjoy the fall!
Darcy Jensen and the PCN Board 

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