Hello everyone! I bought my soon to be 12 year old a phone. I was trying to hold out as much as I could but, there were so many scenarios that made me say to myself, I wish she had a phone. What are some rules that you have for your child when it comes to the cell phone?

Brag on your kids.

I can no longer ask my middle school students do they use that type of language in front of their parents because more often than not the answer is yes 🤦🏽‍♀️ Now I tell them just because it is acceptable in your household, does not mean it is acceptable in here. Im not going to swear around you or at you, and I expect the same. Yesterday, a boy called a girl a b*tch and told me his mom wouldn’t care if he were defending himself. I said defending yourself from what? According to him, the girl said what do you want in a loud tone that was rude 😩 We had a reminder about appropriate responses to rude behavior and appropriate classroom language (I went over forbidden classroom words in the beginning of the year). A lot of parents in various parenting groups say they allow their child to curse. I personally don’t understand it. Kids are always going to test boundaries, but if they don’t have any at home with their own family and siblings, it makes it harder for their teachers to enforce boundaries. They feel they should be able to say whatever to other students who annoy them because they get away with saying whatever to their siblings whether it’s cussing or being downright mean. Many don’t believe that having a foul filthy mouth in the classroom is disrespectful. They say it’s just words, but let them even think you as the teacher uttered a cuss, they have a heart attack. I remind them that dumb, stupid, retarded, etc are just words, and I don’t allow them to call each other that either. I know times are changing and all, but basic respect should still be taught and expected. What are your thoughts?

Happy New Year 🎊🎆🎈 How do you set goals for the new year? For the past few years, I’ve been setting a focus word of the year. Some of my past words were intentional, focused, execute, and flow. This year my word is grit. Grit means to focus on perseverance and passion for long-term goals. I need to push beyond my comfort zone in a few areas. So that’s my word: GRIT I’ll be helping my son, the boys in the book club, and my students figure out their focus word of the year. If you want to create one but don’t know where to begin, Here is the process: Step 1: Reflect on the Past Year Wins, challenges, lessons, emotions and experiences that stand out Step 2: Envision the Year Ahead How do you want to feel this year? Goals, dreams, intentions…what area needs the most focus? Step 3: Write down all words that resonate with the energy or outcomes you want for this year Step 4: Narrow down your word by choosing a word that is broad enough to apply to different aspects of yojr life but specific enough to inspire action. Step 5: Commit to your Word Make it your screensaver. For my son and students, I have had them draw ✍🏽 it and taped to their notebooks, on our classroom walls, and even in the inside of their lockers. This year my self-love class will be creating a painting of their word. I purchased canvases and everything 🎨🖌️🖼️ If you decide to create a word, share with your child so they can hold you accountable because they will lol 😆 and have them create one as well and hold them accountable. Share with us here too so that your fellow Healthy Hittas can hold you accountable as well. Here are some other strategies for an intentional start of the new year that I’ve done personally and with my child and students: ✅ Create a vision board- Cut out pictures and words that represent goals. We’ve done this on poster board and digitally. ✅ Conducting a Life Audit- Write down goals in the major categories of life: finances, fitness, family, fun, friends, faith, and future.

During community circle, I asked my 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students about their most memorable Christmas. Most students talked about family games and dinners, playing video games all night, holiday parties, spending time with cousins, getting a pet, seeing family they haven’t seen in awhile, a specific trip, or a memorable incident (like a grandma breaking both arms on a hover board 😫😳). Out of 78 students less than 10 mentioned a gift…and guess what the gift was…a phone. One child did mention getting a Barbie car when she was 5. But that’s it. I’m sharing this because during this holiday season, I hope this is a reminder to look not go into debt or beat yourself up if you can’t do the most. Experiences and time well spent is what matters to kids 💕 My students from Jamaica, El Salvador, and Dominican Republic mentioned that exchanging gifts is not a part of the culture. It’s more about being with family. Some of their families have started giving gifts since they moved to America, but they focus on being with family and going to church. America has commercialized Christmas, but just remember that you get to make and teach your own traditions. Children will value the happy memories the most. Happy Holidays 💕