Novercaphobia: Fearsome phobias from A to Z

“Better a serpent than a stepmother!” said Euripides, the Fifth Century BC Classical Greek poet. Maybe times have changed a bit since then.

Novercaphobia is the fear of stepmothers.

Blame the fairy tales, if you want, for painting stepmothers as wicked, horrid, selfish, evil creatures. (Some of us aren’t really all that scary.)

Scores of stepmothers are actually the opposite of the fictional villainesses. These ladies willingly take on extra responsibilities, making room in their hearts and their homes for children who are not (at least initially) their own – all the while trying valiantly not to overstep basic boundaries.

Often, fine families are formed this way. And that’s a step in the right direction.

Still, some individuals are apparently still frightened of stepmothers. (See what I did there?)

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April Challenge reveal - Fearsome Phobias from A to Z

Never fear. Practically at Home is on-board for the April A to Z Blogging Challenge again this year. Duck! Here comes a 26-post alphabetic series, running throughout the year’s fourth month.

It’s time to reveal my theme for the A to Z Challenge:  Fearsome Phobias from A to Z.

I know it’s not October. Halloween is not coming early this year. It just seems like a fascinating topic for a month of blogging. And I am betting that some of the phobias that show up in upcoming posts will be familiar, while others may seem strange and surprising.

So please double back and see if you recognize any of the big, hairy, scary subjects that may appear here.

Image:

A to Z Blogging Challenge promo logo – fair use

Graphic adapted from public domain image

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Personal Space and Teenagers: Websurfing

All-over internet access may be the stickiest widget of all for parents of teenagers. High schoolers (and even middle schoolers) increasingly carry wifi-ready devices into the classroom and everywhere else these days. In fact, many schools require this.

How much parental control is too much, and how much is not enough?

1. Is your teen allowed to use the internet without any supervision?
2. If not, what rules do you have? How do you enforce these?
3. Do you check the browser history on your teen’s computer, tablet, cell phone, or other internet access device?
   Have you insisted on content controls for these tools?
4. Do you allow your teen to access the internet in a private spot?
5. Have you ever blocked a website on your teen’s internet usage device?
6. Does your teen have access to your computer, tablet, cell phone, or other internet access device?
7. How about your passwords? Are they auto-fills, or do you have to type them in?

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