The Case For Thank You Notes

One mom on why she's a stickler.

Apr 04, 2022

I Will Always Make My Kids Write A Thank You Note   Life is busy, and the notion of getting your kids to sit down and write almost anything can feel downright impossible. But today, writer Jennifer Taber VanDerwerken makes the case for making the time for thank you notes.  She explains that while she doesn't die on a lot of parenting hills — this is a tough gig for everybody and generally her preferred policy is to keep it moving — she remains absolutely devoted to the institution of the thank you note. Her kids will be writing them: "I fervently and unapologetically believe in the thank you note. If you do something nice for me, you're going to receive one. And I am raising my kids to believe they are a non-negotiable part of being a polite and gracious person." She makes a good argument! Picture me looking guiltily at a large stack of blank cards… — Kelly Faircloth, Executive Editor   READ MORE

I SHOULD KNOW THIS Why Is My Hair So Dry And Brittle?   The first installment in a new, judgment-free beauty basics column from Scary Mommy. First up, we're talking about hair care, just in time to fix the ravages of winter. Read More   NEW READS Momstagram Fave Liz Climo On The Making Of Her New Picture Book   You've probably encountered Liz Climo's warm and charming comics in your Instagram travels. Well, she's got a new picture book out — and we've got her behind-the-scenes take on how the illustrations came to be. Read More   BEING DIFFERENT IS 'SUPERCOOL' Colin Kaepernick's First Children's Book Celebrates Black Identity   In 2019, the activist founded Kaepernick Publishing; I Color Myself Different, based on a moment from his own childhood, is the publishing house's first foray into children's literature. Read More

I Have 'The Office' To Thank For Saving My Relationship With My Daughter   It's one of the (many) tough moments in the parent-child relationship: finding your new normal when the person whose butt you once wiped becomes an adult. Abby Alten Schwartz found herself bickering with her grown daughter when she moved back home after college, until they stumbled across a solution: old episodes of The Office. Watching together, they developed their own new language of references; Schwartz writes, "To anyone listening in, we may sound silly or even obnoxious, but peppering in these phrases instantly puts us on the same page. More importantly, it reinforces our bond the way only an inside joke can."   READ MORE

How Florida's 'don't say gay' law could harm children's mental health Children are grimy, and that's (mostly) ok On Being A Woman Who Talks Too Much

You're receiving this email because you signed up to receive communications from BDG Media. If you believe this has been sent to you in error, please safely unsubscribe. 315 Park Ave. South, New York, NY 10010 Copyright 2022 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved.