Bad seeds, big apple

QThere's a "no cell phone" policy at my son's middle school, but I've told him I want him to keep his phone in his backpack anyway, in case he ever really needs to get in touch with me. Am I setting a bad example by telling him to break the rule?

A I'm curious—why would your son "really need" to get in touch with you while he's at school? Do you really think you are so indispensable to him that he must be able to reach into his little backpack and call you? What was the last thing your son asked you to do for him? I'll bet he asked you to shut up and leave him alone. Like many parents, you suffer from delusions of grandeur about your place in your child's life. I say this again and again, but nobody listens: Kids don't need their parents. In fact, studies have shown that the average child's "No. 1 problem" is his parents. In some cultures, children set off on their own when they are only six months old. My advice: Leave your kid alone; he's got some pot to smoke.