You don’t have to be friends with everybody, you just can’t be unkind to anybody.

Some of the choices teenagers make are morally and practically wrong. Some of my characters do things I hope my child won’t. There are occasionally words my characters choose that I wouldn’t utter in my mother’s presence. But when I was sixteen, or twelve, hanging out with my friends? That was different. For a story to feel real, I have to respect what a character would really do or say.

Oh it just gives me the heebie-jeebies.

Just for taste bites of sample bagels have – fun fact – between zero and “screw you” calories.

I am a pacifist, danm it! And now I’m bleeding. What is wrong with you, you sick sicko?

Young people are growing in plain sight, there is no place for them to hide, no cocoon. It’s hard.

I shoved him off the snowmobile. He landed on his back in the snow. “Love is a brat, you think? No, love id fine. You are the brat, you spoiled, rotten brat!

Consent is really too low a bar. Hold out for enthusiasm.

I have standards. Well, okay, they’re love standards, but I have them.

Kids are constantly evolving, learning, and growing. They aren’t who they were yesterday.