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President Donald Trump has officially revoked the Secret Service protection for former Vice President Kamala Harris, which had been extended beyond the standard six-month period by former President Joe Biden before he left office.

President Donald Trump said US workers are already benefitting from his economic policies. “The average American worker has already seen a $500 wage increase this year,” Trump said during an August 26 Cabinet meeting.

Effective parenting is largely about communication, but sometimes communicating with kids is easier said than done. If you're a parent of a school-aged child, especially a tween or teen, you've likely had some version of this conversation more times than you can count:"Hey, how was school today?""Fine.""Just fine? Anything interesting happen?" "Not really." "Well, did you have a good day at least?" "Yep." — (@) The "How was school?" question inevitably leads to monosyllabic answers that feel more like an obligatory response rather than an actual, thoughtful answer. And yet we keep asking it because it's a reasonable question and we really want to know. We're not asking for a dissertation, so why don't kids open up when we ask them how school was? And how do we get them to do so? According to child behavioral experts, the problem lies partially in the question itself. "Often, we choose questions like 'How was school?' or 'How was your day?' Questions like that don’t give a child a place to start," says Kristi Budd, a school counselor at The Gordon School in Rhode Island. "They also don’t show a lot of thought or understanding on the part of the adult. Think about the different facets of your day, and how broad that question might seem."Children's days are busy, just like ours. "A good rule of thumb is: could you answer the same question?" Budd says. "Or would it leave you wondering where to start?" Broad, vague questions can be overwhelming for any of us.Photo credit: CanvaThoughtful questions come from thinking through a child's day, putting yourself in their shoes, and recognizing where there might be triumphs or trials they might like to share. What might your kid have been thinking about during recess? What might they have been feeling in class? "Try asking questions that help your child reflect and express their feelings," suggests Irin Rubin, author of The MamaZen Parenting Method. "This not only gets them talking, it shows them that you truly value their inner world."Another reason kids might be reticent to open up? The timing of the question, Dr. Shereen Mohsen, a clinical psychologist, tells Upworthy. If you try to ask them about their day right as you're picking them up from school, you'll probably get shut down, as kids need time to shift gears. "A lot of times, kids just need to decompress," Mohsen says. "School takes up a lot of their energy—academics, friends, rules, social stuff—that by the time they’re home, they don’t want to rehash it all." Sometimes kids need a little time to decompress before they're ready to talk.Photo credit: CanvaAssuming they've had a little decompression time first, here are 15 alternative questions suggested by experts that might help kids open up about their day:What was something that made you smile today?Was there a moment you felt really proud of yourself?What was tricky for you today, and how did you handle it?Who did you feel most connected to at school?Who do you want to get to know better?What’s one thing you wish I could have seen you do today?What is one thing that you enjoyed?What was one thing that challenged you? Walking and talking can help. Photo credit: CanvaWhat was something that annoyed you today?What surprised you?What was the funniest thing that happened today?Who did you sit with at lunch?Was there a part of your day that felt really long or boring?If you could do over one thing from today, which one would you pick?Did anyone say something that made you laugh?If your kids are older, don't expect as much sharing about the details of their day, and don't take it personally. "For tweens and teens, keeping things to themselves is often more about independence than rejection," Mohsen says. "Staying curious without pushing too hard shows them you are there for them whenever they’re ready." Teens not wanting to open up to their parents is a normal phase.Photo credit: CanvaBudd suggests making sure teens have other trusted adults in their lives to open up to besides you. "As your children approach high school, it is time to get your mind around the idea that they aren’t going to tell you everything," she says. "As a caregiver, it becomes more important that they have an adult—anyone—that they trust. It could be Aunt Cindy, it could be the librarian, it could be the school nurse. When your child is talking, listen to learn who the adults are in their life, and do what you can to encourage those relationships. It may break your heart to not be the only trusted adult in your child’s life, but you’re doing them a great service by making sure they have a team of grownups and not just one parent."Getting kids to talk may seem harder than it should be, but with the right timing, questions, and expectations, the lines of communication can remain open and kids will know they can always come to you if and when they have things to share.

Comedy legend John Candy was honored in the emotional new documentary John Candy: I Like Me, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Thursday. In it, a slew of famous folks that once shared the screen with Candy—including Dan Aykroyd, Tom Hanks, Macaulay Culkin, Martin Short, Steve Martin, Catherine O’Hara, and Andrea Martin—shared touching memories that further solidify the late actor as not only a once-in-a-generation talent, but a truly good human being as well. One standout story comes from Culkin, who recalled Candy having a “paternal” instinct for the former child actor while working together on John Hughes’ Uncle Buck in 1989—especially when it came to protecting Culkin from his estranged father, Christopher "Kit" Culkin. - YouTube www.youtube.com "I think [Candy] always had that really great instinct. I think he saw. Listen, even before the wave crested and the Home Alone stuff was happening, it was not hard to see how difficult my father was. It was no secret. He was already a monster," Culkin said in the documentary, as reported by People."All of a sudden, the fame and the money came, and he became an infamous monster," Culkin said. "He was already not a good guy. I think John was looking a little side-eyed, like, 'Is everything alright over there? You doing good? Good day? Everything's alright? Everything good at home? Alright.'"Culkin commended that behavior as "a testament to the kind of man he was," noting that “it doesn't happen that often. It actually happened less as time went on.” - YouTube www.youtube.com "I wish I got more of that in my life. It's important that I remember that," Culkin said. "I remember John caring when not a lot of people did.”Culkin also recalled that Candy displayed a lot of respect for the former child star and his on-screen sister, Gaby Hoffmann. “When you're eight years old, you don't really get respect, whether it's in a workplace or just from adults and grown-ups in general. You felt invited in [by Candy]," he shared. While Uncle Buck didn’t go on to achieve great critical acclaim, Candy's portrayal of the titular character is beloved by fans and is often celebrated for its comedic and heartwarming elements—helping turn him into a bona fide star of the 80s. Colin Hanks, who created the documentary, met Candy as a kid. In 1984, his father, Tom Hanks, starred with Candy in the romantic comedy Splash. Similar to Culkin, Colin recalled Candy having a special way with kids. - YouTube www.youtube.com “He just really made you feel unique,” he told People. “He made you feel heard and that's a special thing for a little kid to feel like you actually matter and your opinion matters.”John Candy: I Like Me debuts Friday, Oct. 10 on Prime Video.

Not all friends do all things. It's not abnormal to have friends you go to social events with, and other friends who are more comfortable inside. A lot of times, one of your indoor friends will turn into your "couch friend," and surprisingly, having a couch or "errand friend" can help you both save some money.So, what is a couch friend? They're the friend who doesn't make you feel like you need to run around shoving dirty dishes in the oven before they arrive. They know you have a gaggle of children and work an ungodly amount of hours; they're not judging your messy house. These friends just want to hang out in sweatpants and exist next to you for a few hours. Relaxation mode: Face masks, books, and comfy vibes.Photo credit: CanvaBut couch friends don't simply come over to sit in silence, although they welcome that, too. Oftentimes, they come over and jump right in with helping you cook dinner, get kids to bed, or reset your living space because their presence doesn't require entertainment. Instead, they're there to support you, whether it's with dishes or keeping you company while you finish your Bridgerton marathon. Having a couch friend while being a couch friend has its benefits, mainly that it can help you both save money, and it's fun.Pamela Vachon, contributor for CNET, explains in her article, "How Much Cheaper Is Cooking at Home Than Takeout? We Do the Math" that cooking at home saves big bucks. "By my calculations, on average, cooking your takeout staples at home amounted to about a 50% savings over ordering those same items as carryout, and a shocking 75% savings if you're routinely getting them delivered." Tidying up: teamwork in a cozy, bohemian room.Photo credit: CanvaWhen a friend is hanging out with you in your home, you're not out spending money. You're more likely to enjoy cooking if someone is helping, which again, will save you both money. The bonus is, you get to enjoy the company of someone you care about. Under a video about couch friends, someone describes these friends as "framily," writing, "Framily - friends who are family. We spend the majority of our time together on couches in silence not doing much, but if one needs us, we'll drop everything and do ANYTHING to help."Not only does having a couch friend help you save money, but it can also help you become more productive. The same can be said about having an "errand friend." An errand friend is someone who doesn't mind riding around with you all day while you run errands. It makes running errands more fun and, surprisingly, more productive. Shopping day smiles: friends and baby enjoy the day out!Photo credit: CanvaBilly Roberts, LISW-S, LCSW, the founder and director of Focused Mind ADHD Counseling, a specialized ADHD practice in Ohio and Illinois, tells Upworthy, "There is science behind having an 'errand friend' to help you be more productive. Motivation comes from two places: internal and external. While some of us might be highly motivated to do things for internal reasons (i.e., to win at something), others struggle to find their get-up-and-go around certain tasks (i.e., like cooking when going out is easier). However, when motivation is externalized (i.e., making a plan to do a task with a friend), this can work to shift or even jumpstart motivation. Suddenly, it's not just about cooking because you have to, it's about showing up for someone else, or gaining the reward of a social interaction."Having a friend around to keep you on task isn't just good for your wallet, it's also good for your sanity. Things almost always feel easier when people work together to get them done. But if you just want your friend to come over and sit in silence while you both doom scroll, that's fine too. In fact, that's what couch friends are for.