Ok. I can't dodge the issue anymore. What am I talking about, you ask? My niece.

A couple of weeks ago, I told you that my teenage niece had come to live with us for the summer. A few of you asked, 'How's it going?' (Thank you for asking!)

Some people sent me their horror stories of teens gone wild... girls, er nieces, to be precise  ... in their own homes. (Hmm, why am I less reluctant to express my appreciation for that?)

Then I posted a list of great books on parenting teens. More people wrote and asked, a bit more pressing this time, "So-o, how's it going with the niece mum blogger?"

A master of deflection, I gave you a great 'win-some-wine' contest. Yes, it's confession time: I'm avoiding the issue.

It's not that things are going terribly awry. Overall, they are actually pretty good.

At the heart of the matter is the fact that I didn't ask my niece or sister (niece's mum) if I could blog about the situation before I opened my big mouth. And it turns out (surprise, surprise) my lovely niece would rather I not tell tales - good or not so good - out of home.

This led to a discuss with my great co-workers here at Canadian Living magazine and among my girlfriends. Here's what we mulled over:

In an age in which so many people have blogs and are on Facebook or MySpace, how much of our trials and tribulations with others should we be sharing with the rest of the world - without asking those people involved (friends, kids, spouse etc.) if they mind first?

A question worth thinking about, indeed. Especially when what we put online stays online - forever.

What do you think?

How much should we disclose?

And  do we owe it to the people in our lives (particularly our kids) to ask their permission before we blab on about their dating woes, acne breakouts or temper tantrums?

I want to know what you think -- and I have a Canadian Living cookbook to give away!

This week, we welcomed a new member to our household. Nope, not a baby, or a fluffy kitten or an impossibly energetic puppy. Our new addition is ... (drum roll please) ... my niece who is living with us for the summer.

I know this doesn't sound like a big deal, but for me it is. Why? Because said niece is a whole new species to this mum blogger. She's a teen. And for the mum of 7 and 10 year olds, this is new territory indeed.

For the first time in my life I have someone who is asking to borrow my make-up, my blow dryer and my hot-rollers, and who spends more time in the bathroom than me. I know, it sounds so very cliche ... but it's all true. I have even found myself mumbling under my breathe, "When is she going to wake up? Half the day is already gone."

Then, when I caught a glimpse out the window of my 90 year-old neighbour picking weeds out of her lawn and dragging around a brown compast bag, I couldn't suppress the thought: "Hmm, they just don't make 'em like they used to, do they? Kids these days. They're so-o lazy."

Help! I am morphing into an old codger.

As I adjust to having a teen in my home, I remind myself that this is great training for the years that lie ahead when my girls emerge from their bedrooms after noon, squinting their eyes as they adjust to the daylight.

Do you have teens? If so, help a fellow mum out.

Write to me with your teen parenting tips and stories. You can even share your favourite books on parenting teens.

Until next time, Kathryn

P.S. I am waiting on the final details of an exciting contest that I hope to have up on by blog early next week, so tune in.