there is no place like home.....

Well, for most of my daughters life that is how she felt, but as she gets older, no matter how nice and comfy her home life is, she wants to be with her friends regardless. It makes me sad, but she is growing up and spreading her wings to leave the nest eventually! Nothing wrong with that I suppose. But often times as children get older, they always know they have a safe harbor at home, but they choose to socialize and spend time outside of the home with their friends.

Now I have no idea how this happened but I can tell you my kids will come here and stay with there friends rather than go to there friends places. Im not sure if it has something to do with the fact that my kids just cant sleep where ever they like or not. I will have up to 3 extras every weekend.

Admittedly, neither of my girls has friends over all that often... but mainly, they like to have their "downtime" at home, doing what they like, whether it's laying on their bed in the middle of the day with a good book, watching a favorite DVD, using the computer, cooking, what have you. They're a little bit older, too, at 13 and almost 17. They like to visit their friends at their homes or go out together to movies but they do like to have people in some of the time. I think it's important to let kids have a say in how their rooms are arranged and decorated (gives them a sense of pride and ownership when their friends come) and it's also good for the parents to stay involved a bit when there are other kids visiting. I like to put some effort into the snacks I offer (I'll make up little veggie or fruit platters or I'll put out nice cookies and drinks, etc.) rather than just tossing them a bag of chips. I think it shows the kids that they're welcome.

I'm not quite sure how to create a home environment that is that cool. I suppose some key ingredients would be: - steady supply of good home cooked food (cookies and brownies straight from the oven?) - perhaps some snacks (not too much though!) and ice-cream - lack of nagging, open mind towards 'new fads' - comfortable sofas and chill-out areas - hifi set with good stereo system - cool parents whom they'd like to hang out with and share some time with too I had a friend who had a home that was mostly like that. His sisters' friends would always be coming over. They had such a warm family, which is rare these days so people used to gravitate towards them, esp during ocassions like Christmas. And the family loves having guests over so it was great for everyone.

i am not yet a mother so i would respond to this discussion based on what i think should be done to address this concern... i think that it is important that the parents should let their children feel that their friends are always welcome in their home so that they would encourage their children to invite their friends over. at the same time, this would also discourage the children from lying to their parents as to their whereabouts. for the children to feel that THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, parents should have bonding moments with them. for example, the family could watch a movie at home during sundays or probably engage themselves in arts and crafts or anything that would let the children feel that there's always something to look forward to at home...