Photo by JSVDP

Experts are always sending me stuff hoping for a spot in the Daily Buzz, and I usually just ignore them because the advice I get from the moms here is so much better.

But I recently came across this little "how-to" from Kansas State University child development expert Chuck Smith that I thought was pretty good.

He suggests three simple ways to teach your kids to be thankful. With Thanksgiving and the holidays coming up, I know this is on all our minds. (I, for one, am really tired of reminding my 6 year old to say thank you after a nice gesture or when someone gives him a gift. Is there a point when autopilot kicks in?)

As we all know, telling kids to be thankful just doesn't work. You have to show them, and hope your good modeling rubs off. I liked Smith's three simple and real suggestions on how to do that ...

Photo by Blame_Me76

I was reading in one of the groups about an 8 year old who still uses a sippy cup. It's not his mom's idea -- his grandma continues to give him one, against his mother's wishes. That's probably the main issue here, but I'm stuck on why giving an older child a sippy cup is such a bad thing?

My 6 year old still uses one at night, and when we go on trips in the car. I just take the rubber valve out so it works like a water bottle. Of course, my first-grader would never be caught dead with his red and blue Diego cup in public. He's reached that stage where he knows associations with certain objects just scream "baby!"

Until six months ago, I couldn't get my son to part with his ratty, tatty teddy bear anywhere we went. The bear had to come with us in the car, to the store, and visiting at friends' houses. It's truly a miracle that we never lost him, though we came close tons of times.

Photo by 4timesblessed

Things are moving way too fast. Last night my first grader announces he wants a mohawk (since when did he even care about combing his hair?). Today he tells me that he no longer wants to wear underwear the color red. No particular reason offered. He's fine with white, yellow, blue, green, and even orange -- but no red.

Okay, so he's not demanding more than that. He's still fine with any style, briefs or boxers. He doesn't even realize it yet, but this is the start of the pressure to be "cool" and to "fit in." It's caused by the automatic release of certain enzymes, proteins, or cooties in his bloodstream that triggers this odd behavior in little boys.

It causes him to start making perfectly innocent but puzzling demands that mom can't reasonably refuse, all under the guise of "individuality" and "finding himself."

Granting more freedom to your teenager to go to parties, hang out at the mall, or just get together with friends is tricky. On the one hand, you need to be the cautious and protective parent.

"What good can come of a 9th grader going to parties, hanging out at the mall, and roaming the neighborhood after dark?" says TawnyR, who was discussing teen freedom in the Moms of Teenagers group. "It's like asking for mischief and trouble to happen. At that age, they are daring each other to do stupid stuff. Here is how I see curfew: 9th grade -- 9 pm; 10th grade -- 10pm; 11th grade -- 11pm; 12th grade -- 12am."

On the other hand, acting like the Gestapo can backfire big time, like another mom says,

"I was the child whose parents gave NO freedom. No sleepovers, no going to the movies, certainly no parties. By the age of 16, I was ready to leave home and became every parent's nightmare, a very rebellious teenager."

If the report I read recently on Time.com is correct, parents of teens who do dumb stuff like drink, speed, have sex, and other reckless activities have at least one thing to be happy about.

Their kids are so mature! You read me right. Not immature, like everyone once thought. Very mature.

Which means those phrases you use constantly like, "What's that stupid kid done now?" and "Stop acting like an idiot!" are blatantly false and you should stop saying them.

[Okay, here comes the academic reasoning] Scientists armed with brain scanners found that reckless kids have more white space in their craniums than their more cautious, obedient peers. White space is the wiring, the neurons that hold everything together and help speed up the processing potential.

Photo by AngieMay

Do you consider homework family time?

A lot of moms do, which is one of the reasons some don't object to their kids having to do homework on the weekends. This is another one of those straight down the middle arguments where half agree with it, and half don't.

Which one of these two sides do you fall on?

Pro

"I'm fine with homework on the weekends," Mergath says. "It helps a child retain information, and it also sends the message that you can learn anytime, not just when you're in school. I can't believe we've gotten so lazy that we don't want our kids to have to do anything on the weekends. No wonder our children are so far behind other countries."

Con

Photo from Heather_F

Really enjoyed this short post from Parent Hacks admin Asha Dornfest where she calls for us, as parents, to rename the beginning of a new school year — no longer is it BACK to school, but instead it is FORWARD to school.

After all, the fast momentum of time is pushing us ahead, is it not? Always forward, never back.

During your child's first year of college, it's important to stay connected but not OVERLY connected.

While it may be tempting to hover in on all the new goings-on in your child's new college life, you'll actually do your child a service by letting them assert their independence, make their own choices, and solve their own problems (with just a *little* advice from mom).

Photo by Cafe Sheri

My two sons teach me valuable lessons every day. About joy. About love. About living.

What important life lessons have your kids taught you? Here are five of the many inspiring lessons I've learned from my kids.