If I promise to tell you something, will you promise not to tell anyone else?  How tempting is that offer?  Young kids, and girls especially, are notorious for sharing secrets.

My 11-year-old daughter is guilty of sharing someone else’s personal information.  It gave me the perfect opportunity to guide her on what should and should not remain a secret.  In today’s world of kid’s sharing plans of harming themselves or others, we as parents need to make it VERY clear what information is not worth keeping quiet.

If your child learns that a friend or fellow student plans to hurt someone else, even a threat - that information needs to be shared with an adult.  It’s not your child’s job to determine if the threat was “just a joke.”  Most kids will assume it’s a joke, or not take it seriously.  But we know most attacks on teachers, students, or schools was shared previously with someone who refused to take it seriously.

Likewise, if someone threatens (online or in person) to commit suicide, your child must pass this on immediately.  Just imagine how you would feel if others had known of your own child’s intentions, but didn’t do anything?  It’s better to be safe than at a funeral.

Just like my daughter, all children need to be instructed about what is a secret to keep, and what information needs to be shared with an adult - even if the other child makes your kid swear not to tell.  Without this very important parent conversation, your child may inadvertently participate in a tragedy.

I just spent a few days with a group of people who are so enthusiastic about life and kids, it makes me want to break into song - a camp song.  I was honored to present at the American Camp Association’s national conference in Denver. I love these folks. (Plus, it was the first time something I said was tweeted on Twitter!  Thanks to whoever that was.)

I did not attend camp as a child, but I wish I had.  It’s an extraordinary opportunity for kids to learn about themselves, develop independence, and create positive memories.  (Yes, I’ve encouraged my own daughter to attend camp!)  There are all types of camps in every region and price range.  What impresses me most is seeing how passionate the camp owners and staff are about kids.

Kids are usually up for camp, it’s moms who aren’t sure they can bear to be away from their kids that long.  We hold them back because we aren’t ready.  Yet, what a gift to our kids to say, “I believe in you enough to know you will do well without me.”  If you’ve never researched it before, consider summer camp for your kids this year.  Make sure it’s one accredited by the American Camp Association.

Right now, I can see my breath.  My fingers are little slivers of ice.  I’ve got the dog in my lap for warmth as I try to work and not concentrate on how cold it is in my house.

Our heater broke yesterday and the repairman can’t come until today, so we spent a chilly day and evening shivering away.  I’ve told my daughter that we’re spending 24 hours learning what it’s like to go without heat which is a sad reality for many people in America.  “I don’t like this game,” she responded this morning.

I can’t say I do either, but I’m so grateful we have the choice of how high to turn on our heat and that we only have to suffer one day without.  What a lesson in compassion for others.  Plus, I’ve never seen our daughter quite so anxious to go to school just to get warm!

Meet Sandy, our foster dog from the Animal Protective League.  She has mange (skin disease) and needs treatment before she can be offered for adoption.  She’s two years old and full of life!  This picture is deceiving.  It appears my daughter is taking full care of Sandy.  The truth is, right now Gabrielle is at a friend’s house while Mom and Dad are sitting home with the dog who is whining non-stop.  We’ll see how this test of responsibility goes!

If your kids are on MySpace, what kind of rules have you set?  Is their profile public or private?  What do you know about their online friends, and is that different from how much you know about the ones you meet in person?

These are all great questions posed in a recent Newsweek article. Some of the advice shared is that parents have their own account so they communicate with their kids in this fashion.  I’d be curious if any have you have done that?  Of course you would need to be honest about your identity, not pose as a peer like Lynette did on Desperate Housewives.

One doctor contacted several teens who had posted suggestive material.  She was upfront about who she was and offered education about the ramifications of such postings.  Checking back, some of the kids actually removed material and admitted they did not know they had a “public” account.  Of course others told her to “mind her own business,” but still, it was an interesting experiment.  We think kids know everything about social networking sites.  Yet, some clearly are quite ignorant about the long-lasting damage of posting nude pictures.

Check out the article and tell me what you think.  I’d love to hear your parenting concerns, advice, and experiences!