I often have my kids write as a way of expressing themselves — Why xyz may not be a good choice? Tell me why you want a Six Flags Membership that costs $100? What God gave me hands for? 30 other words that I can use for my brother that don’t include “dipshit”. I get creative and silly with my questions and they get to think and express themselves in a new way.

NOW, having said that. When I F’up — I write my kids an essay. I want my kids to know that writing is useful.

My kids have gotten those requests from teacher to write a letter of apology or some other silly punishment and they work on it as a group project, laughing the whole time. If the teachers only knew!