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A lot of parents are tired of being told how technology is screwing up their kids.

Moms and dads of the digital age are well aware of the growing competition for their children’s attention, and they’re bombarded at each turn of the page or click of the mouse with both cutting-edge ideas and newfound worries for raising great kids.

But beneath the madness of modernity, the basics of raising a moral child haven’t really changed.

Parents want their kids to achieve their goals and find happiness, but Harvard researchers believe that doesn’t have to come at the expense of kindness and empathy. They say a few tried-and-true strategies remain the best ways to mold your kids into the morally upstanding and goals-oriented humans you want them to be.

Here are six practical tips:

1) Hang out with your kids.

This is, like, the foundation of it all. Spend regular time with your kids, ask them open-ended questions about themselves, about the world and how they see it, and actively listen to their responses. Not only will you learn all sorts of things that make your child unique, you’ll also be demonstrating to them how to show care and concern for another person.

2) If it matters, say it out loud.

According to the researchers, “Even though most parents and caretakers say that their children being caring is a top priority, often children aren’t hearing that message.” So be sure to say it with them. And so they know it’s something they need to keep up with, check in with teachers, coaches, and others who work with your kids on how they’re doing with teamwork, collaboration, and being a generally nice person.

3) Show your child how to “work it out.”

Walk them through decision-making processes that take into consideration people who could be affected. For example, if your child wants to quit a sport or other activity, encourage them to identify the source of the problem and consider their commitment to the team. Then help them figure out if quitting does, in fact, fix the problem.

4) Make helpfulness and gratitude routine.

The researchers write, “Studies show that people who engage in the habit of expressing gratitude are more likely to be helpful, generous, compassionate, and forgiving — and they’re also more likely to be happy and healthy.” So it’s good for parents to hold the line on chores, asking kids to help their siblings, and giving thanks throughout the day. And when it comes to rewarding “good” behavior, the researchers recommend that parents “only praise uncommon acts of kindness.”

5) Check your child’s destructive emotions.

“The ability to care for others is overwhelmed by anger, shame, envy, or other negative feelings,” say the researchers. Helping kids name and process those emotions, then guiding them toward safe conflict resolution, will go a long way toward keeping them focused on being a caring individual. It’s also important to set clear and reasonable boundaries that they’ll understand are out of love and concern for their safety.

6) Show your kids the bigger picture.

“Almost all children empathize with and care about a small circle of families and friends,” say the researchers. The trick is getting them to care about people who are socially, culturally, and even geographically outside their circles. You can do this by coaching them to be good listeners, by encouraging them to put themselves in other people’s shoes, and by practicing empathy using teachable moments in news and entertainment.

The study concludes with a short pep talk for all the parents out there:

“Raising a caring, respectful, ethical child is and always has been hard work. But it’s something all of us can do. And no work is more important or ultimately more rewarding.”

This article originally appeared on 06.16.15

When Sean Payton took over as head coach of the Denver Broncos he made sure to let it be known that he thought Nathaniel Hackett and the previous regime had done a terrible job. In fact, he called it one of the “worst coaching jobs in NFL history” and insisted things would turn around under his leadership.

On Sunday afternoon, Hackett returned to Denver for the first time since he was fired, as he is now the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets. Many had circled this game on the preseason schedule, particularly with Aaron Rodgers taking exception at Payton’s shot at Hackett. However, after four weeks of play, the two teams each entered at 1-3 on the season with Rodgers out for the year with an Achilles tear and Zach Wilson back under center. On the other side, the Broncos have struggled finishing games and while Russell Wilson has looked improved from last year, the team as a whole hasn’t been able to get across the finish line for wins.

That trend continued on Sunday as the Jets and Broncos went back-and-forth, with New York eventually taking a 24-21 lead in the fourth quarter. A Wilson interception deep in Broncos territory with just over two minutes to go gave Denver some life, but they’d need to move the ball into field goal range at least to force OT. After a couple completions, the Jets decided to turn up the pressure on Wilson and the result was a game-clinching strip sack by Quincy Williams that got scooped up on the sideline by Bryce Hall, who kept running all the way to the end zone.

It’s the Jets first win since that bizarre opening night game against the Bills, and it has to be a bit extra sweet for New York to get back in the win column given Payton’s preseason comments about Hackett. As for Payton, given how much he talked about turning things around before the season there isn’t much room for him to pass blame to anyone but himself for the 1-4 start in Denver. Wilson has looked better but the team as a whole just isn’t there, particularly on defense where they continue to give up a ton of points. Now, he has to deal with the indignity of losing to a Hackett coached offense quarterbacked by Wilson and deal with plenty of questions heading into the meat of the AFC West schedule.

You always stole my thunder. You gave them everything they wanted. You never said no when they asked for anything.

Tina Platamura

A second helping of dessert. Candy before dinner. A few more minutes in the bath. Money for the ice cream truck.

I struggled to show you respect and appreciation while trying to make sure you didn’t spoil my children. I thought you would turn them into “selfish brats” by giving them everything they wanted. I thought they might never learn to wait, to take turns, to share, because you granted their wishes as soon as they opened their mouths and pointed.

You held each one of my babies long after they fell asleep. Didn’t you understand that I needed them to learn to fall asleep on their own?

You ran to them as soon as they made the tiniest sound. How would they ever learn to self-soothe?

I resented you for buying the best and most expensive gifts on their birthdays and on Christmas. How could I possibly compete with you?

“I thought they might never learn to wait, to take turns, to share, because you granted their wishes as soon as they opened their mouths and pointed.”

And how they loved afternoons spent with you. You made their favorite things for dinner — three different meals for three different boys. And you always had a little surprise. A present, candy, or a special treat. I didn’t want them to associate you with gifts and sweets. I thought they should love you for you. I tried to tell you this, but you wouldn’t listen.

I spent a lot of time wondering why you did all these things and how I could get you to ease up. I know grandmothers are supposed to “spoil the kids” then send them home, but you were … ridiculous.

Until you were gone.

I had to hold my boys and tell them that their grandma died. It didn’t seem possible — you were supposed to be there for all the other special moments: proms, graduations, weddings. But they lost their grandma too soon and too suddenly. They were not ready to say goodbye.

During those years when I wished you’d stop spoiling them, I never thought about how much you loved them. So much that you showed it in every way possible. Your cooking. The gifts. The candy and sweets. Your presence. The way you could recount every detail of a special moment, whether it was a perfect catch in the outfield or a sweet and slightly off-key note sung at a school concert. Your grandmotherly love for them knew no bounds. Your heart poured love from every place possible — your kitchen, your pocketbook, your words, and your tireless arms.

It’s pointless to dwell on regrets, but I often think about how I had it all wrong. I was so wrong in how I perceived your generosity.

My kids, now in their teens, miss you dearly. And they don’t miss your gifts or your money. They miss you.

They miss running to greet you at the door and hugging you before you could step in. They miss looking up at the bleachers and seeing you, one of their biggest fans, smiling and enthralled to catch their eye. They miss talking to you and hearing your words of wisdom, encouragement and love.

If I could speak to you one more time, I would tell you that every time a precious moment steals my heart, every time I watch them arrive at a new milestone, and every time they amaze me with their perseverance, talents, or triumphs, I think of you. And I wish that they could have you back.

Come back and love them one last time, like no one else in the world but a grandmother could. Bring your sweets and surprises. Reward them with gifts for the smallest accomplishments. Painstakingly prepare their favorite meals. Take them anywhere they want to go. All and only because you love them.

Come back and see how much they’ve grown. Watch each boy becoming his own version of a young man. Be in awe with me as we admire how family, friendship, time, and love helped them grow so beautifully over the years.

The more I long for you to come back, though, the more I realize that in a way, you never left.

I understand now. I know you loved them in every way you could. I know that being their grandma gave you joy and purpose. And of course I know that you can’t come back, but I do know that your love for them will always remain. Your love built them and sheltered them in ways that cannot be described. Your love is a big part of who they are and what they will become as they grow. For this, and for every treat and gift, and every time you held them too long or consoled them too much or let them stay up too late, I will always thank you.

And I will wish a million times that you could do it all again.

This article originally appeared on 04.14.16

The highly anticipated WNBA Finals between the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty tipped off on Sunday afternoon in the desert, and in the first half they looked like two evenly matched superteams that were going to go blow-for-blow. The Liberty took a three-point advantage into halftime thanks in large part to the three-point shooting of Marine Johannes, who knocked down four first half threes off the bench, including this heat check in the late second off one foot that had the New York bench going crazy.

However, after a 49-point first half, the Liberty’s offense slowed as the Aces ratcheted up their defensive pressure, with A’ja Wilson (19 points, 8 rebounds) leading the way on that end with her activity at the rim to erase New York attempts at the basket.

On the offensive end, it was the backcourt that was getting it done, as Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum both exploded for 26 points and five rebounds, while Chelsea Gray chipped in 20 points, nine assists, and six boards. That trio proved unstoppable, as they attacked New York’s guards off the dribble and feasted on cuts to the basket, opening up a big second half advantage on their way to a 99-82 win in Game 1.

The Liberty will have to go back to the drawing board on both ends, as they got shredded defensively and just did not have any good answers for the Aces trio of guards. On offense, they worked the ball beautifully in the first half, but as the three-point shot dried up in the second half they struggled to create consistent offense and empty possessions became opportunities for Las Vegas to push the pace and get into their actions early.

This summer, Explosions In The Sky dropped two cinematic singles, “Ten Billion People” and “Moving On,” that marked their first new album (End) in seven years. Now that the band has shared a fresh body of work with their fans, Explosions In The Sky wants to revisit their past works.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of their Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever, and The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place albums, Explosions In The Sky will release a special edition vinyl of each record next month.

The group shared the news with a gallery post on Instagram.” Hello out there. We couldn’t help but notice some of the big number anniversaries rolling our way on some of our records, and it comes with great excitement to announce the reissues of ‘Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever,’ and ‘The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place.’ They come colored,” read the post.

https://www.instagram.com/explosionsinthesky/?img_index=1

In a linear note shared by the group, they note that Bob Weston has remastered both projects.

Both reissues of Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever, and The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place are due out on November 3 via Temporary Residence Ltd. Find more information here.

This year, Bad Bunny has hopped around every sector of the entertainer industry. He’d had a record-setting headline performance at Coachella 2023, done high-stakes wrestling matches with the WWE, appeared on The Simpsons, and starred alongside his rumored girlfriend Kendall Jenner in Gucci’s latest campaign. He’d be well within his right to take the rest of the year off.

Instead Bad Bunny’s busy ironing out his plans for 2024. Last month, he dropped his latest single, “Un Preview.” In his private WhatsApp community, he said they shouldn’t expect anything else until next year. However, on Sunday, October 8, he seemed to confirm long-standing rumors that his album Nadie Sabe would soon be headed down the pipeline.

A fan page dedicated to Bad Bunny pointed out the minor update to his X (formerly Twitter) profile, where the title now appears in the biography section.

To fuel the fire, Bad Bunny wiped his official Instagram page, a social media marketing move artists typically take to make room for a significant announcement. He even shared a post on X: a hilariously cocky tracklist. Each of the 22 songs are listed as “Fuego,” which, translated from Spanish to English, means fire.

Given that his last album, Un Verano Sin Ti, which was released in 2022, broke tremendous streaming records, Bad Bunny’s confidence seems warranted.

Sure, Barbie gobbled up all the cash when it was released, but getting such a popular and unique film made wasn’t always easy. Director/cowriter Greta Gerwig often had to stand her ground, sometimes with the help of star Margot Robbie. Indeed one of the most popular sequences required her putting up a fight. That bit was, of course, the now-beloved “I’m Just Ken” musical number.

“It just said in the script, ‘And then it becomes a dream ballet and they work it out through dance,’” Gerwig told the crowd at the BFI London Film Festival this weekend, during a conversation with Succession creator Jesse Armstrong, per Variety. “There was a big meeting that was like, ‘Do you need this?’ And I was like, ‘Everything in me needs this.’ They were like, ‘What do you even mean? What is a dream ballet?’ And I was like, ‘A dream ballet? Where do I begin!’”

To make her point, Gerwig wound up namechecking one of the most popular classic movie musicals: Singin’ in the Rain, which not only contains scores of musical numbers, but also the lengthy “Broadway Melody” sequence that delves into our hero’s imagination.

“I was like, if people can follow that in Singin’ in the Rain, I think we’ll be fine. I think people will know what this is. So that was the big reference point,” Gerwig explained. “Even though everything felt right to me and was giving me so much joy in the way we were doing it, it was also like, ‘Oh no, this could be just terrible, but now I’m committed.’”

Sticking by her guns paid off, as Barbie is still gobbling up cash in its 12th weekend at the North American box office. Hell, the song in question has proven a breakout hit from the star-studded soundtrack. The lesson? Hollywood should simply trust its most eccentric talent when they say they’re going to force Ryan Gosling to do a dream ballet.

(Via Variety)

When San Francisco photographer Lisa Robinson was about to have her second child, she was both excited and nervous.

Sure, those are the feelings most moms-to-be experience before giving birth, but Lisa’s nerves were tied to something different.

She and her husband already had a 9-year-old son but desperately wanted another baby. They spent years trying to get pregnant again, but after countless failed attempts and two miscarriages, they decided to stop trying.

Of course, that’s when Lisa ended up becoming pregnant with her daughter, Anora. Since it was such a miraculous pregnancy, Lisa wanted to do something special to commemorate her daughter’s birth.

So she turned to her craft — photography — as a way to both commemorate the special day, and keep herself calm and focused throughout the birthing process.

Normally, Lisa takes portraits and does wedding photography, so she knew the logistics of being her own birth photographer would be a somewhat precarious new adventure — to say the least.

“After some thought,” she says, “I figured I would try it out and that it could capture some amazing memories for us and our daughter.”

In the end, she says, Alec was supportive and thought it would be great if she could pull it off. Her doctors and nurses were all for Lisa taking pictures, too, especially because it really seemed to help her manage the pain and stress.

In the hospital, she realized it was a lot harder to hold her camera steady than she initially thought it would be.

“Eventually when it was time to push and I was able to take the photos as I was pushing, I focused on my daughter and my husband and not so much the camera,” she says.

“I didn’t know if I was in focus or capturing everything but it was amazing to do.”

The shots she ended up getting speak for themselves:

“Everybody was supportive and kind of surprised that I was able to capture things throughout. I even remember laughing along with them at one point as I was pushing,” Lisa recalled.

In the end, Lisa was so glad she went through with her experiment. She got incredible pictures — and it actually did make her labor easier.

Would she recommend every mom-to-be document their birth in this way? Absolutely not. What works for one person may not work at all for another.

However, if you do have a hobby that relaxes you, figuring out how to incorporate it into one of the most stressful moments in your life is a pretty good way to keep yourself calm and focused.

Expecting and love the idea of documenting your own birthing process?

Take some advice from Lisa: “Don’t put pressure on yourself to get ‘the shot'” she says, “and enjoy the moment as much as you can.”

Lisa’s mom took this last one.

This article originally appeared on 06.30.16

Everyone’s childhood is different. But there are common objects, sights, sounds, smells, and memories from elementary school that most Gen Xers and Millenials share.

Personally, when i think back to being in elementary school in the ’80s, I remember the taste of the chocolate ship cookie we got on Fridays (with the pizza). The humiliation of getting nailed in the back during nation ball. And the grumbling, grinding sound that happened when you slipped a disk into the drive on an Apple IIe computer.

Nowadays, in a world where most kids would have no idea how to even turn on an Apple IIe or have never felt the sting of a rubber nation ball hitting them square between the shoulders, I get a bittersweet feeling when I think back to my elementary school days.

Mel Madara stirred the nostalgia pot on Twitter this week when she posted a series of photos of things she remembers from elementary school that anyone from 50 to 25 probably recollect, too.

via Daniel Bagel / Flickr

She started up with a series of objects and experiences you may have forgotten that were a daily part of elementary school life.

She inspired countless followers to share the things they remember from elementary school in the ’80s and ’90s.

Heads-up 7-up!

Can you remember the anxiety as someone walked slowly though the room and you hoped and prayed they touched your thumb?

That clock you can wind up from behind.

Do you remember dying on Oregon trail repeatedly?

Four square!

Was that a state-mandated fitness exam or a test for scoliosis?

M.A.S.H.! Did you wind up in a mansion, apartment, shack or a house? What kind of job did you get? Who did you marry? What kind of car do you drive?

Before Michelle Obama it was acceptable to feed a kid a taquito filled with pizza.

Tether ball was fun until one of those rock hard balls hit you in the face.

The stool that helped you grab that Judy Blume book just out of reach. It aw also a rgeat place to sit and read if the tables were filled up or you just wanted some privacy.

Is the VCR bolted down? Check! TV strapped in? Check. It’s time for a rainy day movie.

… or if you’re older, you got “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” or some other Disney nature film on 16mm film in the school cafeteria.

My skin is peeling off!

This brutal contraption isn’t a Medieval torture device but a way to sarpen your pencil.

Finally, if more of us listened to this guy, the country would be in a much better place.

Cats have a reputation for being aloof and standoffish, like they’re better than everyone and simply can’t be bothered. Those of us who have cats know they’re not always like that … but yes, they’re sometimes like that. They can be sweet and affectionate, but they want affection on their terms, they want to eat and play and sleep on their own clock, and we puny, inferior humans have little say in the matter.

There’s a reason why we have obedience schools for dogs and not for cats. Maine coon or Bengal, Savannah or Siamese, ragdoll or sphynx, domestic cats of all breeds are largely untrainable little punks who lure us into loving them by blessing us with the honor of stroking their fur and hearing them purr.

But perhaps we assume too much when we think cats are full of themselves for no good reason. Maybe they are actually somewhat justified in their snootiness. Maybe they really, truly are superior to pretty much every other creature on Earth and that’s why they act like it.

(Cats, if they could talk, would be nodding and prodding us along at this point: “Yes, yes, you’re so close. Just a little further now, keep going.”)

Think about it. They’re beautiful and graceful, but also quick and powerful. They groom constantly so they’re almost always clean and their fur even smells good. They can fall from ridiculous heights, land on their feet and walk away unscathed. They’re wicked good ambush hunters. They can walk completely silently, like ninjas, then pull out the razor blades on their feet at will and do serious damage in an instant.

All of that makes them impressive specimens, but ironically it’s their total hubris that makes them truly superior. When they feel like it (because cats only do things they feel like doing) they will take on anyone and anything. Big, small, dangerous, fierce—doesn’t matter. That unbridled confidence—earned or not—combined with their physique and skill makes them the badasses of the animal world.

Want proof? Here ya go:

u201cI love cats, they are very brave and there is a challenge in their nature! u2764ufe0fud83dude02ud83dude02nnu201d

— Figen (@Figen)
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The lightning-fast smackdown is really the cat’s weapon of choice, isn’t it? They’re so fast with the swipe-slap, it takes their victims by surprise. “Aww, you’re so cute and cuddly, look at y—OUCH!” And then the way they just stand there and stare with their big eyes and their ears back. It’s unnerving. Throw in a little hiss or yowl, and no thank you.

If that video wasn’t enough to convince you, here’s another.

The snakes, man. I can’t get over the snakes.

Cats really are better than us and every other living thing, basically. And even if they aren’t, they believe they are, which counts just as much. They’re either the ultimate creatures or the ultimate conmen. Either way, you just don’t mess with them.

This article originally appeared on 08.17.22