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How to Make Your Cat Happy: 8 Tips That’ll Keep Fluffy Out of Mischief

One second your cat is purring as you pet him, the next he is viciously attacking your hand. Having a cat that is healthy and happy involves more than cleaning a litter box and putting out food. Here’s a list of 8 tips on how to make your cat happy… CONTINUE READING >> 

Think your cat is bored or unhappy being inside? You’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn how to make your cat happy.

One second your cat is purring as you pet him, the next he is viciously attacking your hand. With cat mood swings being what they are, it can make any cat owner wonder, “Is my cat happy?”

Having a cat that is healthy and happy involves more than cleaning a litter box and putting out food. Read on for a list of 8 tips on how to make your cat happy.

1. Get Your Kitty Tired

A tired cat is a happy cat. Cats are naturally athletic animals. They can go stir crazy just lazing about inside the house.

Outdoor cats typically get enough exercise. But it takes more dedication and effort to ensure that indoor cats get enough minutes of active play.

Find ways to encourage your cat to leap, run, and pounce.

2. Give Her Lots of Toys

Toys are one of the best ways for how to keep cats entertained.

No, your house doesn’t need to be overrun with cat paraphernalia. And you don’t need to spend a lot of money either.

Often, the best kitty toys are simple. Ribbons, strips of fabric or feathers on wands, catnip toys, and squeaking stuffed mice are all good options.

And you can upcycle items from home that your cat will love to play with. Paper bags, baskets, boxes, an old sock, a crumpled piece of paper or a milk jug ring are all great fun for your feline.

The idea is to give her lots of variety. Keep a few toys out for kitty to play with and rotate them often.

You can also hide some toys around the house which will encourage your cat to look for them.

3. Let Her Explore

Your cat’s natural curiosity needs to be fed. That’s why the rotation of interesting toys is important.

Let your cat be part of your everyday routine so he has the chance to check out the things your doing. This means letting your cat climb in and sniff your grocery bins after you’ve filled up the pantry.

4. Give Your Cat a Good Show

Indoor cats don’t get access to as many new sights as outdoor cats do. And there’s no Catflix to fill in the hours. So make sure your furry friend has access to the windows.

Either from the back of the couch or a strategically placed cat perches. Your cat will love watching your neighbors walk their dogs and enjoy the birds that dot your yard looking for worms.

In fact, hang bird and squirrel feeders near your cat’s window to give her a better show.

And don’t forget indoor viewing! An aquarium is great entertainment for cats.

Psst. It doesn’t even have to be real. A mechanical aquarium with plastic fish that “swim” across a screen is great fun for kitty.

You can also show your cat some cat videos (especially the ones that feature cats catching rodents or birds.) It’s a vicarious triumph!

5. Happy Kitties Love the Great Outdoors

Your cat’s sense of smell is 15 times better than yours. Give your cat access to the many scents of the great outdoors.

If you have a screened porch, let your cat sit out there every day. Or, you can build or buy a catio that lets your kitty explore outside without any risks.

Keep in mind that a fence may not keep other animals out of your yard. Always supervise your cat when you let him or her out into your fenced yard.

Also, before you start letting kitty out in the backyard, check that your fence doesn’t have escape routes, chemicals, toxic plants and so on.

Keeping cats indoors doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy the best parts of outdoors. Cats love to chew on plants.

Your local garden center or pet store will have wheat or oat grass seed for you to buy. Plant some in small pots for your indoor cats to enjoy nibbling on. Make sure never to bring toxic plants into your home.

When you can’t let kitty outside, keep a window open so he can still get a whiff of what’s going on out there.

6. Let Kitty Hunt for Her Food

You can help keep your cat’s silhouette trim and healthy by not overfeeding him or her.

It’s great if you can let your cat hunt for his food instead of just grazing on her food bowl all day long (which leads to cat obesity).

It’s easy to let your cat hunt for her food. Just hide her food around the house under or on top of things. He will smell the food and find it.

You can also buy a few food-dispensing toys that your cat has to figure out how to use. This makes your cat have to work for his food and keeps his tummy trim.

There are also timed food dispensers that are great for when you are at work.

7. Play With Your Cat

There’s no substitute for interactive play to keep your cat happy. If you play with your cat every day, you never have to ask yourself “is my cat happy?”

When you play with your cat, it is more energetic and intellectually stimulating than when he plays on his own with a toy.

It’s also a great way to bond with your feline. Let your cat use his predatory instincts by moving toys that look like rodents away from him. He will have to work to hunt them.

Again, wand toys are an excellent tool for one-on-one playtime with your kitty.

8. Keep Kitty Healthy

One of the most important tips for how to make your cat happy is to make sure he or she is healthy so it is important to know about this cat asthma remedy.

A sick or injured cat won’t be able to enjoy a high-caliber lifestyle, no matter how many toys or outdoor time they get.

That’s why pet insurance from reliable companies like Bivvy is so valuable. You never know when your feline friend could get sick or injured. Get more information about feline pancreatitis so you know what to look out for.

Get more information about feline pancreatitis so you know what to look out for.

Final Thoughts on How to Make Your Cat Happy

We hope you enjoyed these 8 tips on how to make your cat happy. With some creativity and planning, your cat can enjoy all seven of her lives to the fullest.

Keep coming back for more articles that you’ll love.

We are happy to present this collaborative post to offer valuable information to our readers.

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Top 7 German Culture Faux Pas To Avoid When Traveling

When you are traveling, you need to remember that there are some faux pas that you could run across that will be very embarrassing for you when you come through Germany…
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When you are traveling, you need to remember that there are some faux pas that you could run across that will be very embarrassing for you when you come through Germany. There are some cultural differences that you need to be aware of, and you also need to think about how these things fit into your trip and your daily routine. You also need to make sure that you have prepared accordingly because some of these faux pas could be very bad for you if you do them at the wrong time.

1. Be Careful With Drinking

You might be the kind of person who like to smoke or vape and drink. When you do this, you could bring along your Liquido24 products that will be fun for you to vape while you are at the bar. However, you cannot overdo it. Germans do not like the idea that people think they just drink and smoke all the time. The country is very refined, and you should vape in a refined way. Your ant to vape just a little with one beer, and you could even talk to people about flavor you are vaping because that is more interesting that drinking too many beers.

2. Behaving Badly

You need to be on your best behavior when you are in every foreign country. You have to make sure that you are behaving when you are drinking of eating, and you also need to remember that the police take behavior very seriously.

3. Jaywalking

You might not think that jaywalking is a big deal, but you need to be sure that you have come up with a way to go tot he crosswalk instead of just darting across the road. The Germans do not like it when you feel like you can go whoever you want whenever you want.

4. Being American

You need to not talk about the fact that you are American. Germans do not care, and they will wonder why it is that you think you need to tell everyone that you are American all the time. Plus, you need to stay off hot-button topics like Hitler, World War II, and Nazis because those are verboten in Germany.

5. Small Talking

Germans hate small talk. They do not want to talk about silly things that have no meaning. They are a smart people who would prefer to talk to you about real issues or learn about you as a person.

6. No Tap Water

You cannot ask for tap water in Germany. No one drinks from the tap, and you do not want to insult your host by asking for that instead of a drink they prepared.

7. Eat With A Fork And Knife

You do not even eat pizza with your hands in Germany. You should get used to eating everything with a knife and fork. You can easily eat good food with utensils so that you do not insult your hosts, and you should copy these tips for future trips.

We are happy to present this collaborative post to offer valuable information to our readers.

Top 5 Things To Do In Yosemite National Park

There are so many things to do when you get to Yosemite National Park, but you should narrow down your options so that you are not trying to do everything in just a few days…
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There are so many things to do when you get to Yosemite National Park, but you should narrow down your options so that you are not trying to do everything in just a few days. When you focus on the best things to do, you will have a better time in the park. Plus, you can completely change how you approach your trips when you have already decided exactly what you want to do, how you want to do it, and how you believe you can plan a fun itinerary for everyone.

1. Half Dome

Yosemite has many lovely peaks that you will fall in love with, but Half Dome is a climbers dream. No one would suggest that you automatically try to climb Half Dome, but you can actually hike near it, get some good pictures, and even camp under it just because you want to enjoy how gorgeous this place is. These will be some of the best pictures of your life, and you can hike through here comfortably even if you do not approach the peak at all.

2. Glacier Point

Glacier Point brings you to a nice spot to look over the area and enjoy the scenes of the valley below. People come come here can hike up to elevation if they want to see some fo the remnants of the glacier that was once there, and you will truly enjoy the fact that this place allows you to camp either in the valley or up top where you can see everything.

3. Yosemite Valley

The valley is a glorious place that you could hike through for a couple days if you wanted to. You can sit right in the middle of the valley to get away from it all, and you can hike here over a few days so that you can see wildlife and truly enjoy the nature that is all around you. Plus, you can hike over rivers and through streams that will lead you to interesting places before your trip is over.

4. The Tuolomne Meadows

These meadows are actually at almost 9000 feet up, and they are a gorgeous combination of meadows and marshes that you have to see to believe. This could be a wonderful place to go when you want to keep hiking at elevation, or you could try out these meadows because you want to find nice places to camp with open spaces.

5. Tunnel View Outlook

Tunnel View Outlook gives you just what is describes. This is a lovely place to go where you can look out over the valley and see so many other people hiking, see the wildlife, and take in just how big the park is. This will be a life-changing experience for you.

When you are coming out to Yosemite, you need to pick the best places to visit so that you can see the park and truly enjoy it. Do not clutter your schedule when you have these beautiful locations to choose from.

We are happy to present this collaborative post to offer valuable information to our readers.

5 Reasons To Hire A Car Shipping Company

Due to this fast-growing and changing world, people have to shift their base from one place to another frequently. Long-distance driving may be extremely tiresome and exhausting and takes a lot of time, so it is always better to choose the best car shipping company… CONTINUE READING >> 

Due to this fast-growing and changing world, people have to shift their base from one place to another frequently. Of course, it is not at all easy to carry your belongings for long distances, especially if you have a car of your own. Long-distance driving may be extremely tiresome and exhausting and takes a lot of time. Apart from this, there are safety issues while being on the road, especially if you are to traverse a long distance.

So, it is always better to choose the best car shipping company for this purpose, and the following reasons support this assertion completely.

Then once your car is at your new destination you will be able to enjoy an amazing adventure by following some of these 10 Tips to Plan an Awesome Road Trip.

It’ll be economical

Driving down your car towards a distant destination is going to cost you handsomely. Fuel is the major cost-driver as your car will be consuming lots of energy during the journey, and you’ll have to refuel it a number of times. Also, there is the cost of food accompanied by accommodation and some miscellaneous charges as well. Hiring a shipping company will definitely save you some money and set you free from all worries regarding your vehicle so make sure to compare rates to move your car.

Ensures the safety of your car

Being on the road is not at all safe, especially in long-distance drives as there are a number of other vehicles too and the risk of getting your car damaged is always intact no matter how careful you might be. Choosing a vehicle transport service ensures that you are on a safer side. Although nothing is foolproof, yet they are definitely a better option in comparison to driving it down by yourself. Once you hand your car to car transporter service providers, it’s their responsibility to take it to the destination and will compensate you in case of any damage to the vehicle.

Saves your precious time

Time is money in this pacing world. Road trips may be fun, but they consume a lot of time as well. For people who are too busy to lose this amount of time, driving it down by themselves doesn’t seem to fit in the case. So, it is better to get the other potential option going and have your precious time utilized in some other worthy activity.

Legal stuff is handled

Sometimes it is not easy to traverse across state lines due to the various regulations set up by the state government on the transportation of vehicles. Shipping companies are well aware of these laws and also the ways to handle these. They possess licenses for carrying out shipping activities, so you can be cent percent sure that your vehicle will reach your place safely. However, be careful while choosing your service provider and opt for the one with the best reputation, experience, and level of expertise.

Environment-friendly approach

Vehicles running on petrol and diesel, thus emit polluting elements that degrade the quality of air and aren’t healthy for the atmosphere. If you shun the idea of driving and choose a service provider, then obviously you won’t be releasing some amount of pollutants which you would have done otherwise. This way, you have the opportunity of doing some good to the atmosphere.

Finally, it is advisable to research thoroughly and sufficiently and choose the best company in the business for serving your purpose.

We are happy to present this collaborative post to offer valuable information to our readers.

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5 Tips on How to Choose the Right Airport Parking Option

There can be a couple of things to worry about when you’re away, and of those things could be your car and what to do with it while you’re traveling. Having decided to go with your car to the airport, and use one of the airport parking options, here are 5 tips on how to choose the one that suits your needs… CONTINUE READING >> 

While travel can be a great stress reliever, it can also be a great source of stress before we actually get on the plane and arrive at our destination. There can be a couple of things to worry about when you’re away, and of those things could be your car and what to do with it while you’re traveling.

Having actually decided to go with your car to the airport, and use one of the airport parking options, here are 5 tips on how to choose the one that suits your needs.

1. Length of stay: Knowing how long you need to park your car is the first thing that will determine which option to use. A short business travel or a getaway weekend or any trip that is just going to be a couple of days, will maybe direct you to choosing on-airport parking. They tend to be a good option because they’re close to a terminal. However, it’s the most expensive option, which is why some prefer a park and ride option. It’s cheaper because after parking, you will use a shuttle bus to get to your terminal.

2. Find a reliable provider: For longer traveling, parking on the premises of an airport isn’t that practical and is costly. In this case, you need a parking that is further from the airport, which would mean using a bus to reach the airport. It’s the cheapest option and one that is provided by Parkos airport parking, who will help you find parking spaces for some of the busiest airports in the world, including JFK and Newark in New York and New Jersey respectively, as well as Orlando, Miami and Fort Lauderdale in Florida. The parking lots are well inspected and you can easily book your space online. This option works just as well for short trips as it does for longer travels.

3. Look for the deals: Parking spaces are based on the simple principle of supply and demand. The high seasons will have less parking space, thus less deals. Not only do you want the best deals, but also check what are the terms and conditions of cancelling a booking if you have to.

4. Book in advance: Booking in advance is especially needed during high peak seasons. Don’t leave it until the last minute. It’s very common not to find a parking space during high season, so you want to avoid that by booking your space in advance.

5. Covered spot: Parking lots can just be open spaces, but a covered one is better for your car. Weather conditions, like too much sun, rain or snow can happen. You want your car to be protected as much as possible.

Not everyone has a garage that they can keep their car tucked away safely in. Even if you do have a garage, going and coming from the airport is just easier with your car. With easy and practical online booking options, the only thing left is to come back to find your car with no damage to it, just as you left it, and drive back home.

Safety Travel in Egypt

If you decided to come to Egypt your trip will be quite amazing among some of the most majestic historic destinations and enchanting beaches in one of the most secure and safest places in the region…
CONTINUE READING >> 

The country of Egypt is truly safe to travel as most of the political instability that Egypt has experienced since the revolution in January 2011 has ended and the number of tourists has increased ever since. The current atmosphere of the country is quite peaceful after the government took extreme measures like restructuring the entire tourist police to include all the important and tourist attractions in Egypt. So if you decided to come to Egypt then your trip will be quite amazing among some of the most majestic historical destinations and enchanting beaches in one of the most secure and safest places in the region.

Choosing the Best Travel Agency

Choosing a travel agency can be quite difficult as there are lot good companies out there but nothing like Egypt Tours Portal, the company specialized in creating the best travel experiences in Egypt for all types of tourists around the world, like Americans, British, Australian travelers, and many more. The company rating is wonderful depending on the tourists’ reviews on Tripadvisore, Trustpilot, and many more. The company have the finest professional staff from operators, tour guides to drivers who dedicate their entire life to the providing the ultimate travel experience. All of their travel packages are created and customized by travel, financial and time management advisors to make you have the perfect vacation.

The of History of the Land of Pharaohs

History proves that Egypt has endured a lot of misjudgment but was able to prevail ever since its creation. The history of unified Egypt dates back about 5170 years when Egypt became a unified country under king Narmer the founder of the first dynasty. Egypt achieved great glory thanks to the majestic Nile which acted as the bloodstream  of the entire country as it became known that “Egypt is the gift of the Nile”. In the next three millennia’s many great men and women acted as Pharaohs and established a powerful kingdom as it shows in the monuments, temples and ruins located all across the country. Many great pharaohs like Ramsess II (1279-1213 BC), Hatshepsut (1507-1458 bc) and many more where able to achieve immortality and save guard their legacy from oblivion. After the end of the last native dynasty by the hand of the Persians in 341 BC and soon enough came the Greek, the Ptolemaic dynasty , Romans and Byzantines which introduced the Coptic era to the land then finally came the Arabs who introduced the religion of Islam and the current language Arabic during the 7th century under the leadership of the mamluks dynasty and the Fatimid dynasty who filled the city of Cairo with countless mosques and schools such as the infamous Cairo citadel constructed by Salah el din himself, Al-Azher which was the second largest university in history. The country then became under the rule of ottoman empire in 1517 until the empire fell and the country under invading British rule in 1882 then it gained its independence in 1922.

The Government Achievement

The sector of tourism in Egypt employed about 12% of Egypt’s workforce who serves the 14.7 million tourists and provide a revenue of $12.5 billion also contributing about 11% GDP and 14.4 % of foreign currency revenues. These numbers declined severely after the revolution in 2011 to a revenue of $5.9 billion thanks to civil unrest and security threats. From the point one the government worked effortlessly to regain its glory days through maintain peace and order in the country once more and launching a wave of media encouraging people from all around the world to travel to Egypt. the ministry of culture worked on making discovers all across the country from the ancient middle and new kingdom. There is also the Grand Egyptian Museum which will include some of the most beautiful artifacts in Egyptian history. There is also a project to improve and manage the natural recourses across the red sea coast.

Best Time to Visit Egypt

The climate in Egypt is hot, dry and sunny all year long during the summer  months as the temperature reaches 40 C (104 F) but in the winter months from September to April the climate is warm with a magical winter breeze. The winter months are known to be the best time for tourists to visit Egypt as the weather becomes more tolerable which create the best atmosphere for witnessing the various mesmerizing artifacts and monuments of the majestic country.

The Tourist Rates

Our quality can be proven by all the tourist rates given to us by our visitors from all over the world. The rates prove that our reputation is quite universal and highly positive and emphasizes how this company has served their clients in the most professional manner. The rates also acts as live feed for the current atmosphere of Egypt

Egypt is the true haven for any traveler as it contains some of the most magical cities such as:

Cairo is a wonderful city that holds many cultural, historical, religious and recreational places to visit. Some of the Best Touristic Places in Cairo are Giza pyramids complex (One of the most important wonders of the world), The Egyptian Museum which contains More than 160,000 rare artifacts, Khan El Khalili Bazaar(The oldest bazaar in the Middle East) the Cairo citadel, al azher university which is the second university in history and many more historical destinations.

Alexandria is the second capital of Egypt after Cairo and one of the most beautiful cities of Egypt and was once the capital of Egypt during the Hellenistic period in the Mediterranean region. The city holds the Quitbay Citadel which was built one the same location of the legendry Alexandria library. Alexandrina bibliotheca is characterized by its large space and the splendor of its design, The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa was used as a roman burial ground and reflects the beautiful mixture of the Greco-roman and ancient Egyptian art.

Hurghada Red Sea:

One of the most beautiful  and famous tourist attraction in Egypt it holds a magical marine life resorts, gardens, markets and various tourist activities which makes it an ideal destination the perfect holiday. it holds  Jeffton Island which has about 14 dive sites and wonderful natural features, El Gouna, Sahl Hasheesh and many other resorts around this magical marine life. it is the perfect location for endless water sports like snorkeling, wind surfing and Quad Bike Safari

Sharm El Sheikh:

Sharm El Sheikh is one of the most famous tourist places in Egypt and the most beautiful tourist resorts in the world and known throughout the world as the city of peace. It holds everything a tourist might need as it is one of the best parts of the world for scuba diving, snorkeling for containing a magical marine life, and other water sports, the city also includes a wonderful dessert, popular markets a, traditional hotels, Eastern and Western restaurants, and resorts . the resort has the natural park of Ras Mohammad, the magical resort of Dahab, the dangerous blue hole and many more.

Marsa Alam:

This resort is located 275 km south from Hurghada and known to be a modern community dedicated for the purpose of enjoying the magic and beauty of the marine life of the red sea. it has many sites for diving, snorkeling and many water sports in the finest hotels, restaurants that provide the best service and the wildest club scene.

Luxor the Ancient City:

Luxor was known as the city of hundred doors and one of the greatest open museums in the world for containing some of the most majestic temples monuments and artifacts in egypt. the city was used to as a center for all the political, religious, economical aspects of the ancient Egyptian life and to protect the legacy of the pharaohs from oblivion. It holds The valley of the kings, the holy Karnak temple, the amazing Hatshepsut temple and Colossi of Memnon and many others

Aswan “Nubian City”:

Aswan one of the must be visited cities in Egypt, famous for being the center of elegance and beauty and the center of the Nubian culture. Aswan is located at the southern gate of Egypt and is located on the eastern bank of the Nile. It was the provider for the building matter for the construction of Egypt’s great structures. Aswan is characterized by its dry, hot atmosphere and the scarcity of rain.  Aswan has many tourist attractions and contains many temples such as Philae Island, edfu temple, the unfinished obelisk of Hatshepsut, the High Dam and Abu Simple temple the site of two temples built by King Ramses II (reigned 1279–13 BCE) and many more historical sites.

The beauty of Egypt is completely endless so don’t miss the chance to explore every inch of its hypnotic attractions in its mesmerizing destinations in one of the safest communities.

We are happy to present this collaborative post to offer valuable information to our readers.

The Old College Pry

How do we know when we’ve become too involved in our offspring’s college education?

Is it okay to call a professor to dispute a test score? Should we proofread papers? Should we have access to grades if we are paying tuition? Should we storm the Dean’s office?

This recovering helicopter mom got the straight dope from college professors – and you won’t believe their stories… CONTINUE READING >>

With Back to School in full swing we decided to take a look back at when our oldest first flew the nest to go off to college.

Veronica Writing

It’s hard to let our kids go.

The day our babies head out on their own, whether in the direction of their own apartment or a college dorm room, is a tough one for any parent.

When the time came for our first chick, The Piglet, to fly off on her own, David escorted her to college while I stayed home to tend the nest.

I bravely smiled and waved as I deposited them on the plane — then sat in my car in the airport parking lot and cried like Tammy Faye Bakker on the second day of her period. It was a regular air-sucking, mascara-dripping, please-God-nobody-see-me sob fest.

Not my finest moment.

Back at home with the two remaining chicks, I thankfully was able to focus my helicopter mom hover on their antics. It was a darn good thing they needed me because I might have followed The Piglet to college.

Life went on as well as could be expected until The Piglet’s first semester ended and I didn’t have access to grades. Seriously? I’m paying tens of thousands of dollars for college and I DON’T EVEN GET TO SEE THE GRADES?! WTH?

When I spoke to The Piglet about it, I was told, “Duh, Mom, I’m an adult now and you can’t just look at my records.”

The helicopter mom in me bristled. After all, any hovering mother knows that grades are a large indicator — a snapshot of how a kid’s life is going. But really, is it our business once they go to college?

Turns out The Piglet was correct (damn!).

College students are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) which expressly forbids a college or university to disclose grades to parents. Many institutions offer a waver for the students to sign allowing parental access, but personally, I would think long and hard before asking my kid to do this. This is a time in their lives when a bit of privacy goes a long way towards self-reliance and maturity.

According to the University of Michigan website:

“If you wish to find out about your student’s grades and academic standing, the best approach is to ask your son or daughter directly. College students are generally willing to share information about grades and academic performance with their parents as they assume greater responsibility for their own lives and are able to discuss academic issues with their parents as mature adults.”

In my case, the U of M website advice hit the mark dead-on. The Piglet strutted off to college as an I-know-everything teenager intent on world domination. Imagine my shock when I received a phone call during her sophomore year asking my opinion on what classes she should take. She hadn’t asked for my thoughts on anything since The Great Puberty Wars.

My year off from helicoptering had done us both a lot of good and I was ecstatic over my new role as an enthusiastic sounding board. Go figure, I was able to simply listen and allow her to sort things out for herself. Progress, indeed.

FERPA restrictions and sage advice from universities aside, professors receive phone calls and e-mails from parents to discuss grades. Even I think this a huge breech of protocol and I’m one of the biggest, crazy recovering helicopter moms there is.

So I wondered, is it ever appropriate for a parent to contact a professor?

“No,” says Ohio State Lecturer Jason Payne, “Once you are in college, you are supposed to be an adult.”

Nevertheless, Payne does receive calls, many times irate, from parents.

He recounted a story about a student athlete who turned in an assignment that consisted of a review plagiarized from a book jacket. Word for word. After Payne issued a failing grade, Mommy called up to give him a piece of her mind. She let him know that her son was a sports star and the first in the family to attend college. “How dare he” give her son such a grade.

Another parent, a college professor no less, explained to Payne that he had proofread his son’s final essay and proclaimed it a great paper. The paper was full of unsupported claims including the “fact” that AIDS wouldn’t exist in Africa if the Africans were Christian — with no evidence to back it up. The icing on this cake came a year when Payne bumped into the student and was addressed as “douchebag“.

I’m beginning to understand the lack of maturity this type of parental involvement begets, as I have met Mr. Payne and he is hardly a douchebag.

Dr. Matthew Ramsey, an Assistant Professor at Salve Regina University is not as emphatic about parental contact. When asked about the appropriateness of parental contact he said,

“It’s perfectly understandable why a parent might want to contact a professor, particularly if they can’t get any answers from their children, or from the administration. Of course, that doesn’t mean the professor is obligated to respond. I’ve always responded to parent inquiries when allowed, and although they aren’t always terribly productive discussions, I think it’s better than ignoring parent requests for information.”

Dr. Ramsey has also received e-mails from less-than-happy parents,

“I got a very long e-mail explaining why my decision to fail a student for plagiarizing was misguided, short-sighted, unfair, etc. It all came down to the claim that this parent’s child would never knowingly cheat, how great this student was, how dedicated, how hard-working and the rest. Parents have a hard time acknowledging that their children are in fact human, capable of making mistakes, stressed out a great deal of the time and sometimes willing to take shortcuts.”

Bill Sinfield, Headmaster of Good Hope Country Day School, related a whopper of story,

“During the time that I was completing my Masters of Educational Leadership at Simon Fraser University, I was waiting outside the office of the Dean of the Department of Education. I was joined by the mother of a student at the school. The lady was clearly agitated and told me that she was there to complain to the Dean about a mark her daughter had received for a Case Study that she had written. According to the mother, her daughter had been unfairly assessed because she had lost marks for poor writing skills.

“The mother’s concern was that those writing skills had been poorly taught in high school, so she should not be held responsible. She said that it was ridiculous that the university should be penalizing students for mistakes in their writing, especially since the public schools in the province were so inadequate. Note: British Columbia public schools are ranked among the best in the world.

“I let her go in to the Dean’s office before me…

“After thirty minutes of hearing through the closed door her shrieking voice and his calm but decisive responses, I knew that the Dean had made it clear that the mark would not change.

The door to his office then flung open, she rushed past me through the outer office, and her last comment was, ‘I’m going to speak to the President (presumably of the University but who knows), about this!’

“The Dean then came to his office door, and with a very strained smile on his face, said, ‘Come on in, Bill.’ When I sat down in his office, I said, ‘That sounded a bit animated.’ He couldn’t contain his exasperation, and he disclosed to me that it was the second time the women had come to him to complain about a mark that her daughter received.”

Both Payne and Ramsey have had suspicions that a parent has written an assignment for a student. Ramsey adds,

“Suspected, yes. Caught, no. And I’m pretty sure there’s no real way to prove it. Students will sometimes tell me a parent (usually a teacher or professor) helped them proofread / edit a paper or assignment, and I’m sure in some cases there might have been more parent input than is appropriate. But unlike typical cases of plagiarism or cheating, there’s very little you can do in those instances beyond reminding the student of their responsibilities, what constitutes cheating.”

Here’s where I shine, I’m just too lazy to be THAT involved.

Actually, behavior like this makes me wonder why people shell out the money for college at all. I mean, seriously, how is this helping?

A college degree may help in landing a job but I’m guessing that once the employer realizes his employee is illiterate he’ll find a replacement and Junior is sent packing. The likelihood of ending up with a boomerang “kid” is deterrent enough for me to keep my big nose out of my kid‘s school work.

So does parental interference affect a student’s development?

“Yes, of course, says Ramsey, “but that doesn’t necessarily mean the effect is negative or detrimental. I have a lot of students who are frequently given pep talks, or threatened, by their parents to keep up with their work, to attend class regularly, etc. Some of them don’t appreciate it, and kick against the traces, but it usually doesn’t affect their classroom performance. And in some instances I think that parent/child relationship has helped some of my ‘flightier’ students buckle down and stay focused.”

Says Payne,

“I believe that smothering parental behavior at the university level stifles a student’s imagination and creative thinking. The danger is that they lose a healthy sense of wonder, the immenseness of all there is to know.”

Heady stuff that. And I personally refuse to be a part of it.

Veronica, GypsyNester.com

Delve Deeper:
Are You a Snow Plow Parent? 7 Modern Parenting Terms
9 Things We Wish We’d Known BEFORE We Sent Our Kids to College
Crowdsourcing the ULTIMATE College Care Package
What if My College Kid is Addicted to Online Gaming?

YOUR TURN: You’ve heard my thoughts, what are yours? How much is too much? Is there a middle ground? Should parents have access to college students’ grades? Is it ever appropriate to contact a professor?