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A Note From Your Publisher: The one about helping 📝

By Christen Reiner, Macaroni KID Lakewood-Littleton & Macaroni KID Denver Editor and Publisher April 29, 2023

Hey Mac Families,

It is okay to help your kid.

Let me say that again....

IT IS OKAY TO HELP YOUR KID.

No matter what age they are or what they need help with, you should never feel afraid to help your kid.

Now, I am not talking about doing their entire science fair project for them, or never teaching them to do things on their own. I am talking about helping your kid when they need help. Just because your kid is in middle school, or high school, or is 18 or 22, that doesn't mean that you automatically have to stop helping and/or supporting them in their journey through life.

We spend so much time telling people that it's okay to not be okay, and that it's okay to ask for help, and that they should reach out for help if they need it. But apparently, that's only valid for adults, because as parents, we are constantly being told that we should force our kids to grow up by making them function completely on their own. In fact, they are chastised if they don't instantly turn into 100% knowledgeable adult humans on their 18th birthday.

They will not know how to make doctors' appointments for themselves just because they have turned 18.

They will not automatically have great time management skills because they are in high school.

They will not know how to handle approaching their teachers simply because they are in middle school.

Did you wake up on your 18th birthday and know exactly how to function as an adult? I sure didn't. In fact, I still call my parents for help and advice in my 40's. Why should we expect a teenager to have all the skills that an adult should have? It's just not reasonable. It's okay that they are still learning how to adult. It's okay that they ask for help. And it's okay that you offer to help them.

Kids and young adults being expected to do everything on their own while adults are encouraged to reach out for help is a huge pet peeve of mine. Let's normalize asking for help and offering help for EVERYONE.

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

Peace ☮️, Love ❤️, & Macaroni 🌼,

Christen