Mother Of The YearNäide

Listen and Learn

Mom, it’s important for you to be available for your older child but to refrain from being an interruption in his life. That may sound a little confusing. What does it mean to be available without interrupting? Let me give you a practical example.

I’d encourage you to volunteer to drive a carload of kids to an event, either school or church related. If you are quiet and don’t interrupt as you drive, you’ll discover a vast amount of information. What are these kids interested in? Are they boy crazy, girl crazy, or sports crazy? Do they have an interest in spiritual things? Are they respectful or teasing as they talk to one another?

If you chauffer the kids and don’t interrupt, before long you’ll become invisible—and from that invisible state you can be a student of your own child and his peers. You’re offering a service to the kids, not companionship; and by listening, you will learn a great deal that can be of help to you as a mom.

It’s True:

Too often moms miss an opportunity to learn more about their child because they don’t want to take the time or choose to interrupt rather than listen.