The Kid Whisperer: How to have a pleasant visit with your kids at a relative’s home Scott Ervin, Tribune News Service Sep 29, 2026 10 hrs ago 0 Why do my 4- and 6-year-old insist on being on their absolute worst behavior when we go to visit family? (Anastasiia Boriagina/Dreamstime/TNS) Anastasiia Boriagina/Dreamstime/TNS Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Scott Ervin, Tribune News Service Dear Kid Whisperer,kAm(9J 5@ >J c\ 2?5 e\J62C\@=5 :?D:DE @? 36:?8 @? E96:C 23D@=FE6 H@CDE 3692G:@C H96? H6 8@ E@ G:D:E 72>:=Jn (6 =:G6 D6G6C2= 9@FCD 2H2J 7C@> >@DE @7 @FC 72>:=J >6>36CD[ D@ H6 5@?VE 92G6 E:>6 E@ G:D:E G6CJ @7E6?] x H2?E E@ 36 23=6 E@ 6?;@J E96 E:>6 H:E9 >J C6=2E:G6D — 3FE >J <:5D >2<6 :E :>A@DD:3=6 2D E96J 2C6 ;FDE 2== @G6C E96 A=246 2?5 5@?VE =:DE6? E@ 2 H@C5 x D2J] x 42?VE ;FDE E2<6 E96> 9@>6 2?5 ECJ 282:? E96 ?6IE 52J] (92E 5@ x 5@nk^AmkAmp?DH6Ci *@FC <:5D 2C6 5@:?8 E9:D 3642FD6 E96J’C6 =:EE=6 G6=@4:C2AE@CD H9@ 2C6 DFA6C D>2CE 2?5 <?@H E92E J@F 2C6 :? 2 E24E:42==J H62< A@D:E:@?[ H9:=6 >:=6D 2H2J 7C@> J@FC 9@>6 2E 2 A=246 E92E E96J <?@H J@F C62==J H2?E E@ 36]k^Am People are also reading… Kannapolis beer and BBQ joint to permanently close. Here’s the last chance to visit End of an era: NC DMV eliminates stickers, routine paper registration on Oct. 1. Here's why Davidson County woman awarded $850K in lawsuit against former Mooresville NASCAR driver Cabarrus County sees more top leadership turnover as commissioner resigns NC constitutional amendments on 2026 ballot. Here's what you should know Man drowns in Lake Norman while saving his sister from overturned kayak NC kills $9M incentive after Mooresville company failed to deliver on jobs N.C. newborns now screened for two additional disorders Two years later, Helene scars linger across WNC public lands Morganton, Lenoir residents accuse Winston-Salem's Quality Oil of selling contaminated gas Two years after Helene, NC roads are open but much rebuilding work lies ahead Cabarrus facility among hospital beds across NC delayed by industry appeals Climate change blamed for one-fourth of all heat-related emergency room visits in NC Apparel chain Cato says it will close 120 stores by the end of the year Trump rejects Iran’s proposal to open Hormuz, end fighting kAm*@FC <:5D ?665 E@ 36 C6EC2:?65 :? 2 =@H6C\DE2<6D 6?G:C@?>6?E 367@C6 8@:?8 324< E@ 72C 2H2J 72>:=J G:D:ED] w6C6’D 9@H x H@F=5 724:=:E2E6 E9:D]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mz:5 (9:DA6C6Ck^DEC@?8mi *66D9] *@F 8FJD D9@H65 >6 5FC:?8 @FC =2DE EC:A E@ vC2?5>2’D 9@FD6 E92E J@F ;FDE 2C6?’E C625J E@ 8@ E@ G:D:E 72>:=J] *@F’C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 AC24E:4:?8 ?@E 42FD:?8 AC@3=6>D F?E:= J@F 364@>6 6IA6CED 2E 36:?8 :? AF3=:4] (6’C6 8@:?8 E@ 5@ D@>6 EC2:?:?8 96C6 :? E96 AC:G24J @7 @FC 9@>6]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mz:5k^DEC@?8mi w@H =@?8 H:== E92E E2<6nk^Am kAmkDEC@?8mz:5 (9:DA6C6Ck^DEC@?8mi %92E 2== 56A6?5D @? J@F] xD?’E =:76 6I4:E:?8nPk^Am kAmkDEC@?8mz:5 (9:DA6C6Ck^DEC@?8mi u66= 7C66 E@ DE2J H:E9 @FC 72>:=J 2D =@?8 2D J@F 42? 364@>6 6IA6CED 2E ?@E 42FD:?8 AC@3=6>D]k^AmkAmpD kDEC@?8mz:5 R`k^DEC@?8m 2?5 kDEC@?8mz:5 Rak^DEC@?8m 8@ 23@FE E96:C 52J[ kDEC@?8mz:5 (9:DA6C6Ck^DEC@?8m C6:?7@C46D E96 3692G:@CD 96 H@F=5 =:<6 E@ D66[ 6DA64:2==J 2E C6=2E:G6D’ 9@FD6D[ H96? 96 D66D E96>]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mz:5 (9:DA6C6Ck^DEC@?8mi x ?@E:465 E92E J@F 2C6 36:?8 <:?5]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mz:5 (9:DA6C6Ck^DEC@?8mi x ?@E:465 E92E J@F 2C6 EC62E:?8 6249 @E96C H6==]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mz:5 (9:DA6C6Ck^DEC@?8mi x ?@E:465 J@F 36:?8 42=> 2?5 A@=:E6]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mz:5 Rak^DEC@?8m DF556?=J D4C62>D 2E 9:D 3C@E96C]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mz:5 (9:DA6C6Ck^DEC@?8mi *66D9]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mz:5 (9:DA6C6Ck^DEC@?8m A:4<D FA kDEC@?8mz:5 Rak^DEC@?8m 2?5 42CC:6D 9:> E@ 2 D276[ E2?ECF>\AC@@7 C@@>[ H:E9@FE D2J:?8 2?JE9:?8 36D:56D E96 H@C5 “J66D9]”k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mz:5 (9:DA6C6Ck^DEC@?8mi (96? 42? J@F DE2J H:E9 E96 72>:=Jn r@>6 324< H96? J@F 42? 7@==@H @FC CF=6D] ~FC 72>:=J :D 36DE H96? J@F’C6 2C@F?5Pk^Am kAmx7 kDEC@?8mz:5k^DEC@?8m 4@>6D 324< F?A=62D2?E[ kDEC@?8mz:5 (9:DA6C6Ck^DEC@?8m 42CC:6D 9:> 324< E@ E96 @E96C C@@>] %9:D >2J ?665 E@ 36 C6A62E65 D6G6C2= E:>6D]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mz:5 (9:DA6C6Ck^DEC@?8mi *66D9]k^AmkAm{2E6C[ A6C92AD 27E6C >2?J EC:AD E@ E96 @E96C C@@>[ kDEC@?8mz:5D R`k^DEC@?8m 2?5 kDEC@?8mak^DEC@?8m 7:?2==J FD6 3692G:@CD E92E D9@H E92E E96J <?@H 9@H E@ 36 :? 2 9@FD6 4@CC64E=J]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mz:5 (9:DA6C6Ck^DEC@?8mi *@F 8FJD 92G6 D9@H? >6 H:E9 J@FC 8C62E 49@:46D E92E J@F 2C6 C625J 7@C E96 ?6IE =6G6= @7 q6:?8 2 !6CD@? :? E96 (@C=5 !C24E:46P %@ E96 A2C< H6 8@Pk^AmkAm,pE E96 A2C<.k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mz:5 (9:DA6C6Ck^DEC@?8mi u66= 7C66 E@ DE2J 2E E96 A2C< 2D =@?8 2D J@F 42? 7@==@H @FC CF=6DPk^Am kAm%96 A2C< AC24E:46 H@C<D E96 D2>6 H2J 2D 9@FD6 AC24E:46[ 6I46AE E92E 2E E96 G6CJ 7:CDE D:8? @7 2? 2?E:D@4:2= 3692G:@C E92E H@F=5 36 C62D@? 7@C 6>32CC2DD>6?E 2E E96 C6=2E:G6D’ 9@FD6[ kDEC@?8mz:5Dk^DEC@?8m 2C6 :>>65:2E6=J A:4<65 FA 2?5 42CC:65 E@ E96 42C[ AFE :? E96 42C @C 3@@DE6C D62E[ 2?5 E2<6? 9@>6[ H:E9 kDEC@?8mz:5 (9:DA6C6Ck^DEC@?8m C6A62E:?8 @?=J @?6 H@C5]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mz:5 (9:DA6C6Ck^DEC@?8mi *66D9]k^Am kAm~?46 E96J >2DE6C E96 A2C<[ E96J 2C6 C625J E@ 8@ E@ 2 72>:=J >6>36C’D 9@>6]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mz:5 (9:DA6C6Ck^DEC@?8m =6ED vC2?5>2 <?@H E92E 96’D A=2??:?8 2 G:D:E] w6 =6ED 96C <?@H E96 A=2? 3FE >2<6D 96C AC@>:D6 E@ ?@E ECJ E@ “96=A[” <?@H:?8 E92E D96 H:== @?=J >6DD :E FA H:E9 C6>:?56CD[ H2C?:?8D[ 6E4] w6 =6ED 96C <?@H E92E 96 2?5 9:D 72>:=J >2J 36 =62G:?8 62C=J] (96? 96 2CC:G6D[ 96 2?5 9:D 72>:=J 5@ ?@E F?A24< E96:C E9:?8D]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mz:5 (9:DA6C6Ck^DEC@?8m FD6D E96 D2>6 H@C5D E@ D6E =:>:ED[ 2?5 E96 D2>6 ?@E:4:?8 E@ C6:?7@C46 8@@5 8F6DE 3692G:@C]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mz:5 R`k^DEC@?8m FD6D 2? 2?E:D@4:2= 3692G:@C]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mz:5 (9:DA6C6Ck^DEC@?8mi *66D9]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mz:5 (9:DA6C6Ck^DEC@?8m C6>@G6D kDEC@?8mz:5k^DEC@?8m E96 D2>6 H2J 96 5:5 2E E96 A2C<] %96 C6DE @7 E96 6IE6?565 72>:=J 3C:?8D 2== @7 E96 kDEC@?8mz:5 (9:DA6C6C u2>:=Jk^DEC@?8m’D A@DD6DD:@?D E@ E96 42C 2D E96J D25=J H2G6 8@@53J6] kDEC@?8mz:5 (9:DA6C6C u2>:=Jk^DEC@?8m 5C:G6D 9@>6 H:E9@FE =64EFC6D @C 2?86C]k^Am kAm~7 4@FCD6[ :7 kDEC@?8mz:5Dk^DEC@?8m C:D6 E@ E96 =6G6= @7 E96:C EC2:?:?8[ 6G6CJ@?6 ;FDE 6?;@JD E96 6?E:C6EJ @7 E96 G:D:E E@ vC2?5>2’DPk^AmkAm(9:=6 :?4@?G6?:6?E[ :7 2?E:D@4:2= 3692G:@CD 5@ 92AA6? 2?5 E96 72>:=J 92D E@ 8@ 9@>6 62C=J[ E92E 6IA6C:6?46 :D =:<6=J E@ 42FD6 2 A6C>2?6?E 3692G:@C 492?86 E92E H:== 8C62E=J :>AC@G6 kDEC@?8mz:5 R`k^DEC@?8m 2?5kDEC@?8mRak^DEC@?8m’D 7FEFC6 =:G6D 2?5 >2<6 :E G6CJ =:<6=J E92E E96J’== 36 23=6 E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? E96 6?E:C6EJ @7 E96 ?6IE 72>:=J G242E:@?]k^Am 0 Comments Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular The fall reset is real: Families are back to busy Shipt reports families are feeling overwhelmed as fall routines resume, with 60% of parents finding the transition stressful due to increased … US refusals of crucial newborn vitamin spike, raising risk of dangerous bleeding The percentage of parents and caregivers refusing a standard vitamin K shot for infants at birth has accelerated sharply this year, putting mo… Families are reading to preschoolers less often since the pandemic Researchers said this is cause for concern considering the major effect parent reading with young kids has on outcomes such as language develo… The postpartum sundown scaries: Why nighttime anxiety hits new moms so hard Naturepedic reports that new moms often experience "sundown scaries," a wave of anxiety and dread that intensifies at night due to disrupted s… Co-parenting? How to create healthier digital boundaries across two homes Verizon’s Parenting in a Digital World reports co-parenting can create digital boundary conflicts, stressing the importance of alignment on sc…
The fall reset is real: Families are back to busy Shipt reports families are feeling overwhelmed as fall routines resume, with 60% of parents finding the transition stressful due to increased …
US refusals of crucial newborn vitamin spike, raising risk of dangerous bleeding The percentage of parents and caregivers refusing a standard vitamin K shot for infants at birth has accelerated sharply this year, putting mo…
Families are reading to preschoolers less often since the pandemic Researchers said this is cause for concern considering the major effect parent reading with young kids has on outcomes such as language develo…
The postpartum sundown scaries: Why nighttime anxiety hits new moms so hard Naturepedic reports that new moms often experience "sundown scaries," a wave of anxiety and dread that intensifies at night due to disrupted s…
Co-parenting? How to create healthier digital boundaries across two homes Verizon’s Parenting in a Digital World reports co-parenting can create digital boundary conflicts, stressing the importance of alignment on sc…
