For Parents: Between Me and You...

[I'm not a trained child-rearing expert. I've just got four kids of my own. Learn from my mistakes....]
Three more things to NEVER say to your child:
- "So?" You might as well be saying, "hey, idiot-- what's the big deal?" Take every question, every situation your child brings to your attention and let them know they can always trust you to take them seriously. If they get the idea that you will brush them off, they'll go elsewhere....
- "I don't care" - Even if the subject is menial, don't let yourself get into the habit of saying this phrase. Of all the people in your child's world, YOU are the one who HAS to care-- about every part of his/her life. You have to be the one in whom they can always count to care. If it's not you, they'll find someone else-- and you might not like who makes themselves available to your child....
- "Stupid" That word is not allowed in our home. Aside from being a cruel way to judge someone's intellect, it's a lazy catchphrase. The stupid book, the stupid garbage disposal, the stupid barber, the stupid President, my stupid brother.... see where it leads? Books can't be stupid, so why let kids get into the HABIT of using "stupid" as a catchphrase when a better word can be found. Most vulgarity and profanity is just the result of laziness (not taking the effort to find the better word). Make your kids express themselves distinctly early on so they establish the habit for their whole lives. They will benefit greatly from it.