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Ask Aunt Steph is a bi-monthly advice column by Stephanie Baffone, LPCMH, NCC, a licensed, board-certified mental health therapist, freelance writer and beloved aunt to 41 nieces and nephews.
Following in the footsteps of her paternal grandmother, the former neighborhood consigliera (advisor) she is often found holding court with family, friends and clients seeking advice on life, love and loss. “Aunt Steph” lends her talents to answer reader’s questions, too.
Dear Aunt Steph: Our son has badgered us for several years to have his own Facebook page. We’ve resisted his repeated requests because we thought he was too young to appreciate the dangers of social media, but he started high school this fall and we are considering giving in. At what age to do you think a child should be allowed to have his or her own Facebook page? – Just curious
Dear Just: For me—it depends on the child. The decision to use Facebook should be based on several things, including the maturity level of the child and a parent’s sense their child understands and appreciates the dangers of social media and will behave accordingly online. At what age that is, will vary from child to child. Regardless, I advise parents to have frank discussions about the dangers of social media and to set clear ground rules upfront about their child’s online activity. These rules should include: friending each parent, no inappropriate postings (make it very clear what you consider inappropriate—including language, pictures, etc.), and placing secure settings on their accounts. Keep up with their online activity daily, stay educated about the use of social media and discuss with your child from the outset what the consequences will be if any guidelines have been broken. Parenting proactively lends itself to a higher rate of cooperation from kids, and what parents don’t want that?
Dear Aunt Steph: Over the summer my friends and I started a little babysitting business, but we are running into a problem with one family in particular. A few times, when it came time to pay us, they said, “Oh, sorry we’re out of cash. Catch you next time.” We understand that can happen, but these people never ended up paying us at all! The worst was when they docked our pay for an entire hour after my friend ran home briefly to get some books to read to the kids. We love their children but feel like we are being taken advantage of. What should we do? – Taken for a ride
Dear Taken: The next time these people ask you to babysit, graciously decline. If they still owe you money, drop an invoice in the mail, along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope with a note, explaining you are following up with those who still owe you money and would appreciate their prompt payment.
Looking for a speaker for your next event? Got a question for Aunt Steph? Email her at Stephanie@StephanieBaffone.com or write to: Ask Aunt Steph, PO Box 9972, Newark, DE 19714 or join the conversations on Facebook, Twitterand StephanieBaffone.com
Ask Aunt Steph is a bi-monthly advice column by Stephanie Baffone, LPCMH, NCC, a licensed, board-certified mental health therapist, freelance writer and beloved aunt to 41 nieces and nephews.
Following in the footsteps of her paternal grandmother, the former neighborhood consigliera (advisor) she is often found holding court with family, friends and clients seeking advice on life, love and loss. “Aunt Steph” lends her talents to answer reader’s questions, too.
Dear Aunt Steph: Our son has badgered us for several years to have his own Facebook page. We’ve resisted his repeated requests because we thought he was too young to appreciate the dangers of social media, but he started high school this fall and we are considering giving in. At what age to do you think a child should be allowed to have his or her own Facebook page? – Just curious
Dear Just: For me—it depends on the child. The decision to use Facebook should be based on several things, including the maturity level of the child and a parent’s sense their child understands and appreciates the dangers of social media and will behave accordingly online. At what age that is, will vary from child to child. Regardless, I advise parents to have frank discussions about the dangers of social media and to set clear ground rules upfront about their child’s online activity. These rules should include: friending each parent, no inappropriate postings (make it very clear what you consider inappropriate—including language, pictures, etc.), and placing secure settings on their accounts. Keep up with their online activity daily, stay educated about the use of social media and discuss with your child from the outset what the consequences will be if any guidelines have been broken. Parenting proactively lends itself to a higher rate of cooperation from kids, and what parents don’t want that?
Dear Aunt Steph: Over the summer my friends and I started a little babysitting business, but we are running into a problem with one family in particular. A few times, when it came time to pay us, they said, “Oh, sorry we’re out of cash. Catch you next time.” We understand that can happen, but these people never ended up paying us at all! The worst was when they docked our pay for an entire hour after my friend ran home briefly to get some books to read to the kids. We love their children but feel like we are being taken advantage of. What should we do? – Taken for a ride
Dear Taken: The next time these people ask you to babysit, graciously decline. If they still owe you money, drop an invoice in the mail, along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope with a note, explaining you are following up with those who still owe you money and would appreciate their prompt payment.
Looking for a speaker for your next event? Got a question for Aunt Steph? Email her at Stephanie@StephanieBaffone.com or write to: Ask Aunt Steph, PO Box 9972, Newark, DE 19714 or join the conversations on Facebook, Twitterand StephanieBaffone.com
