• My son is 7 and my daughter is 5, and they can be considered impolite by some adults. • My oldest is neurodivergent, and saying "hello" or making eye contact can be hard for him. • I don't care if my kids swear or don't use "please" and "thank you."

Recently, I had a parenting cringe moment.

We were meeting potential landlords, an older couple renting out their home for the winter. It's a beautiful house, and from the view off the porch, I can already tell it's perfect. I want us to appear perfect, too — the kind of family that'll fit right in.

So when they leaned down to say hello to my 7-year-old son, Oscar, and he ignored them, I braced myself. The woman gently persisted, but Oscar continued to avert his gaze, shouting for a screen. I handed him my phone, redirecting everyone's

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