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5 saucy things your grandpa can teach you about romance
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With many years of experience, Grandpa could probably teach you a thing or two about romance. - photo by Tamsyn Valentine
Everyone loves his or her grandpa. He is usually cracking some age-old dad jokes, and sneaking you candy when grandma isnt looking. He is full of great stories from the days before Internet, and some pricelessly embarrassing ones about your mom or dad.

But when the word romance is mentioned, you wouldnt necessarily associate it with your grandpa. But think about it, if he has had a marriage thats lasted this long and he didnt have texting or tinder, cant your grandpa teach you a thing or two about romance?

The answer would probably be yes, and here are a couple questions you can ask him in order to help you in the romance department.

How to make someone notice you

Not only is this question fun, but it will give you some insight on how to meet people sans social media, meaning you usually have to actually speak to the person face to face. Maybe your grandparents met at a dance or a pep rally. Wherever they met, hearing how your grandpa got the attention of your grandma will not only be fun, it will teach you to have a little courage to go after the someone you like.

How to ask your crush on a first date

This question will be a fun one because, as was previously mentioned, your grandpa didnt have the option of sending your grandma a FB message or swiping right on Tinder. He probably had to call her, come to her house, or write a note to ask her on their first official date. Hearing what your grandpa had to do will probably make you grateful for modern technology, but also help you to be more creative the next time you want to ask someone out, even if it's your significant other.

The most romantic moment of his life and why

Want to know some real advice about romance? This is the question to ask. His response might surprise you, and maybe grandma too. This question might prompt some thought on grandpas end, but his answer will be an inspiration to both you and the generations you share this with that come after you.

How to propose to the woman of your dreams

When I asked my own grandfather this question, it was surprising to me that he seemed to recall every detail of that day. Not only is this super romantic, but it can also be quite funny. Hearing the story of how your grandpa proposed to your grandma is sure to illicit both laughs and ooos and awws as well.

How to keep the romance alive after kids, jobs, and mortages

Listen attentively, because it is not an easy feat to keep romance alive for 40 or 50 plus years. He may tell you things that he has done that you never even thought of and that you can easily do with your significant other. Plus, hes sure to unveil some stories that you never would have heard, which again is a great way to learn more about him to share with your own children.

In the end grandpa has been on this earth a lot longer than you have, so his insights on life and romance are invaluable. Take this opportunity to learn more about a man you love dearly, who wont necessarily be around in the years to come.
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How to avoid 'sharenting' and other paparazzi parenting habits
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A recent study revealed parents often spend up to two hours staging a single photo of his or her child to post online. - photo by Amy Iverson
Before having kids, some people just dont appreciate their friends baby posts. But after having a child of their own, three fourths of new parents jump right on the parental social media bandwagon. If you have become a member of this group, there are some rules to follow for posting responsibly.

Much of a parents worry is how to teach their children to use social media responsibly. We talk with our kids about privacy, oversharing, and setting restrictions on their devices to keep them safe. But parents themselves need to look in the digital mirror once in a while. Before having children, it doesnt take as much effort to think about what to post online. Its up to us to decide what we share about our own lives. But once you become a parent, there are many questions to think about regarding what is appropriate to post about your kids on social media.

In a recent survey, kids clothing subscription company Mac and Mia surveyed 2000 new parents to find out how they are documenting their kids lives on social media, and what concerns they may have.

First of all, people without children seem to feel a bit differently about the onslaught of baby pictures online than those who are parents. 18 percent of people say before they had kids, they were annoyed by their friends baby posts. But after having children of their own, 73 percent admit they post progress pictures of their little ones every single month.

Not only are new parents letting the world know each time their baby is a month older, but they are posting about their kids every few days or so. Men and women report they post 6-7 times per month about their baby.

And while 70 percent of new parents say the benefit of using social media is how easy it is to help family and friends feel involved, there are some downsides. Here are a few tips to avoid the pitfall of becoming paparazzi parents.

Dont miss the moment

In the Mac and Mia survey, some parents admitted to spending up to two hours to get the perfect shot of their baby. That seems a little extreme. New and old parents alike should be careful about spending so much time taking pictures and videos that they dont enjoy the moment. Years ago, I decided to never live an experience through my phone. A study by Linda Henkel, a psychology professor at Fairfield University in Connecticut, found that when people took pictures of objects in an art museum, they didnt remember the objects as well as if they simply observed them.

This photo-taking impairment effect can happen to parents as well. If we are so consumed by getting the perfect photo, we can miss out on the moment all together, and our memory of it will suffer.

Dont forget about privacy

60 percent of couples say they have discussed rules and boundaries for posting their babys photos, according to the Mac and Mia survey. Even so, men are 34 percent more likely to publish baby posts on public accounts. If parents are concerned about their childrens privacy, keeping photos off of public accounts is a given.

In the Washington Post, Stacey Steinberg, a legal skills professor at the University of Florida, and Bahareh Keith, a Portland pediatrician, wrote that sharing too much information about kids online puts them at risk. They write that all that sharenting can make it easier for data thieves to target out kids for identity theft. Check that your privacy settings are where they should be and never share identifying information like full names and birth dates.

Dont be paparazzi parents

36 percent of parents say they take issue when their childs photo is posted online by someone else. Responsible social media users will always ask permission before posting a photo of another child. But parents should also think about whether their own children will take issue with their own posted photos a few years down the road.

When parents are constantly snapping pictures and throwing them on social media, it can be easy to forget to pause and make sure the post is appropriate. I always use the billboard example with my kids. I ask them to picture whatever they are posting going up on a billboard in our neighborhood. If they are okay with that, then their post is probably fine. Parents should ask themselves this same question when posting about their children. But they should also ask themselves if their child would be OK with this post on a billboard in 15 years. If it would cause embarrassment or humiliation, it might be best to keep it private.

Once children reach an appropriate age, parents should include them in the process of deciding what pictures are OK to post. Researchers at the University of Michigan surveyed 10- to 17-year-olds and found children believe their parents should ask permission more than parents think they should. The kids in the survey said sharing happy family moments, or accomplishments in sports, school and hobbies is fine. But when the post is negative (like when a child is disciplined) or embarrassing (think naked baby pictures or messy hair), kids say to keep it off social media.
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