conversations

Parents don't realize how easy they have it before their lil ones speak. Mom and dad can sit at the dinner table and talk about their days and the toys they have stowed away for a rainy day. Once tots can better understand, mama might find herself s-p-e-l-l-i-n-g out dinner selections for dad in hopes that her offspring won't derail her nutritious meal plan. But when precocious kids begin honing their reading skills, the luxury of free speech between grown-ups quickly disappears. Past generations of parents turned to obsolete languages like Pig Latin or Yiddish to kid-proof their conversation. With technology, today's parents have a new option – texting!

At a recent dinner party, a fellow mama told me that she and her husband have taken to texting each other – even when they are under the same roof – so their kids aren't privy to their conversation. We've discussed the many ways tech products can make motherhood easier, but how do you feel about bringing your phone to the dinner table?

While many moms and dads fret about having the birds and the bees conversation with their children, some never broach the topic of the first kiss. Kids' lips can meet in puppy love on the playground or years down the road for late bloomers. In last night's episode of Mad Men, Sally Draper planted a wet one on her friend, Ernie, while the two innocently pretended they were driving in a car as they sat in an empty bathtub. After hearing about the incident, Betty told her daughter, "You don’t kiss boys, boys kiss you. Your first kiss will be very special.” Since smooching happens early — even in preschool these days, when do you think it's the best time for parents to talk about a lip-lock to their tots?

If you have strong opinions on moms of the small screen like Betty Draper, mosey on over to the Television Moms group in the LilSugar Community to discuss topical issues from recent episodes of shows.