http://www.highcountrymomsquad.com/in-which-my-daughter-and-her-friends-still-think-im-cool/ connecting families with the best shopping, dining, and playing... with kids. Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:28:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://www.highcountrymomsquad.com/in-which-my-daughter-and-her-friends-still-think-im-cool/comment-page-1/#comment-2639 Tiffany Wed, 10 Jun 2009 05:56:13 +0000 http://www.highcountrymomsquad.com/?p=3237#comment-2639 What an awesome story! My oldest child (a girl) just completed 6th grade and I am well aware of the possibility that, at some time in the near future, she may decide that she doesn't have parents anymore, I will be a total embarrassment, and be denied (in her mind) the right to exist in public. So, since 4th grade, I've asked her "permission" for things such as chaperoning field trips and dances, special assemblies, and volunteering to help at lunch time. (There are no options on Awards Day!) Even though I don't want her to say "NO" I have TRULY given her the permission to say it. As a result, she feels free to share with me, in a respectful manner, what her fears and apprehensions are and, up to now, we've always been able to come to an agreement that allows me to still attend the event and be a part of these fun things but not crowd her space or embarrass her. For example, in order to chaperone a dance, I not supposed to dance in the middle of the floor with the kids and I'm not supposed to "hang out" with them and listen to their conversation. It worked fine- I went, enjoyed talking to the other parents, essentially pretended like she wasn't my kid (even though she spent quite a bit of time coming over to check in with me on her own) and we were all happy. What an awesome story! My oldest child (a girl) just completed 6th grade and I am well aware of the possibility that, at some time in the near future, she may decide that she doesn’t have parents anymore, I will be a total embarrassment, and be denied (in her mind) the right to exist in public. So, since 4th grade, I’ve asked her “permission” for things such as chaperoning field trips and dances, special assemblies, and volunteering to help at lunch time. (There are no options on Awards Day!) Even though I don’t want her to say “NO” I have TRULY given her the permission to say it. As a result, she feels free to share with me, in a respectful manner, what her fears and apprehensions are and, up to now, we’ve always been able to come to an agreement that allows me to still attend the event and be a part of these fun things but not crowd her space or embarrass her. For example, in order to chaperone a dance, I not supposed to dance in the middle of the floor with the kids and I’m not supposed to “hang out” with them and listen to their conversation. It worked fine- I went, enjoyed talking to the other parents, essentially pretended like she wasn’t my kid (even though she spent quite a bit of time coming over to check in with me on her own) and we were all happy.

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