How to help your kids get along this summer

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That time again, parents,

I guess we're at the midpoint of summer here in the northern hemisphere, which either means you are just getting into the swing of the non-school routine, or that you are just about to hit the point where you don't mind so much that the kids will be back at school soon. I have been conducting a small experiment this summer in which I have stopped reminding my children to do chores. They're of age now when they know what their jobs are, how to do them and why , if they're home all the time, they need to be done more often. My hypothesis is that they have also reached that sweet, sweet spot where they can see WHEN to do them. This has been a bit of a hump in my house. I have endured a lot of the "I'm going to do but on my time" kind of negotiation tactic. When I helpfully point out that a family is a team, and that the goalkeeper in a soccer/football team doesn't get to save the goals on his/her time, it falls on deaf ears. I guess people don't see taking the recycling out as quite as urgent as deflecting a penalty kick. Anyway, so I just gave up with the reminders. Two results: (1) eventually, if you wait, the laundry gets laundered, the recycling is recycled and the beds are made. Eventually. (2) The dishwasher is never unpacked. But that could be because, actually, I quite like that job, so I do it before anyone notices. I should stress, this was not a scientific test. Your mileage may vary, etc.

I'm at Belinda.Luscombe@time.com or @luscombeland on twitter.

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roundup

One of the most vexing debates in the parenting echo chamber is the supposed conflict between those who have children and those who don't. Yes, it's sometimes hard to explain what it's like to have children to those who don't have them—a communication gap can open between childless friends and relatives after you start a family. But let's banish the myth that people who don't have children don't like children. TIME

The people who invented the juul—my least favorite invention in the world, including culottes—have told congress they didn't know teens would take to it like curry takes to rice. Which just goes to show that, when it comes to teenagers, sometimes really smart people can be dumber than a box of rocks. TIME

A new study has found that new mothers may be vulnerable to "sharenting," which is a horrid new word that means giving away too much personal information about your offspring. Parents who are feeling less self-confident are particularly likely to take give away too much. "Providing updates on [a child's] progress with posts of photos, videos, and other personal information about the child has almost become a social norm, but it puts the child's online privacy and, potentially, safety at risk," the researchers write. Science Daily

Want to keep your kid up with the news but are worried that you're going to stumble across something that you weren't ready for your kid to see? Time for Kids is here to help!

Good news: TFK's Kid Reporter Will Holland went to Washington D.C. this week to meet with the CARE team, including two kids who are working to help end world poverty. TFK

Difficult news: The resignation of Puerto Rico's governor has been a big story this week, and we can't help but think about what conversations are happening at home about the "why" behind his resignation. Will some kids make the connection to cyberbullying and the ramifications? TFK

One of the things about summer is that your kids get to spend a lot more time with each other. Sometimes that's the most wonderful experience, to be in the company of those with such close biological and cultural bonds to you. And sometimes, it can all just get a bit much. Mindful of how sibling relationships can bring the parents who observe them joy or anguish, I'm reposting a wonderful piece by my colleague Jeff Kluger, who has written books and given TED talks about siblings, which explains how you can help your kids get along. TIME

Part of my sacred epistolary duty is keeping time-strapped parents in touch with the world of parenting and child-related memes. Therefore: Peppa Pig. TIME

PFFT: Parenting from Famous Types

Jimmy Fallon, comedian and parent of two,

"I know what time of the morning it is by where their feet are in the bed. They come in around four in the morning and then they just slowly rotate them. Once their feet are on my face, it's like 'Oh, it's 6:30.'"

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