John Y’s Musings from the Middle: Children and Disclosure

Disclosure and children.

How much is too much?

How little is not enough?

As with most things, it’s a delicate balance and specific to the situation. One never should like to ones children. But one should probably never disclose gratuitous details that weren’t specifically requested.

For example, a few weeks ago my son and I were on the topic, somehow, of Christmas song and which ones were probably best known.

I told him that Bing Crosby’s White Christmas was recognized as the greatest Christmas son ever –and had sold more records than any other Christmas song by far.

That was an “appropriate, informative, and measured response” to share with my 18 year old.

What I didn’t share with him is that my favorite Christmas song of all time is Christmas in Hollis by Run DMC.

I just can’t resist the lyrics,

“It’s Christmas time and we got the spirit
Jack Frost chillin, the orchas out?
And that’s what Christmas is all about
The time is now, the place is here
And the whole wide world is filled with cheer”

And

“My name’s D.M.C. with the mic in my hand
And I’m chilling and coolin just like a snowman
So open your eyes, lend us an ear
We want to say: “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!”

But to have shared that, in my view, would have been a “parental over-share.”
Even thought its true.