Nurturing Great KidsSample

Just Be There

Step one to a good relationship with your child is to be quick to listen. When your child reaches the age where they can tell you things about their life or issues they are dealing with—listen. Please understand that you might not ever need to respond. The tendency for every parent is to feel like you need to supply all their answers, but often times it is most helpful to simply listen and learn.

If step two is needed, it is wise to be slow to speak. Measure your response. If it’s defensive or attacking, reconsider what you plan to say. When your child listens to you, make it worth their while. If you develop this type of relationship, they will probably pursue you often with issues.

Third, don’t allow your conversation to take an angry tone. The moment this happens, you have lost any chance of making a point or making a difference. Sadly it happens too often.

Determine today that you will begin to improve your ability to converse with your child by practicing these three steps—steps that are Biblical and thus have the very foundation of truth.

Parenting Principle

Wise parents open their ears more than their mouths.

Points to Ponder

How would you rate yourself as a listener?

How can you prevent your conversations from turning angry?

How can you improve communication with your children overall?

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.