Can Kids Teach Themselves?

I always shied away from praise about the kids' behavior, intelligence, talent, kindness, whatever. Assuming there was enough time for the conversation that would commence as soon as I said it, I'd respond with something to the effect, "It's not me; it's the kids; really, they're educating themselves."

Interesting how the person who just moments before was flattering me suddenly experienced a complete body language shift. The eyes might widen in disbelief, or narrow as if I was the devil incarnate standing before her (it wasn't always a "her," but mostly). It was the narrow-eyed ones that made me wonder if the conversation was going to result in a visit from some child protective agency.

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