I always had an open discussion policy in my house. At an early age I told my daughter that we could always talk about anything and I would keep an open mind. I feel that it is imperative to the child parent relationship that they feel comfortable talking to you about what is going on in their lives. In order to foster an open and honest dialog your child must feel that he or she will not be judged or punished for being honest.
I told my own child that I needed for her to be honest with me at all times because if there were ever an occasion that I needed to help her out of a situation and I did not have all of the facts that I would not be able to help her.
In order to understand issues that my child was facing I would always try to switch places with her mentally or emotionally. What may have not seemed like a big deal to a grown up may have been earth shattering to a teenager so by putting myself in her place it helped me to see things from her perspective.
A lot of times parents live by the “because I said so or the do as I say not as I do” rule. With our millennial children and even more so with todays computer age generation things are a lot different and the challenges are a lot more trying. By keeping an open mind and often times putting yourself in someone else’s situation you may be able to calmly help them understand the why’s and why not’s.
In some cases with my daughter after we talked through things she was able in some instances to change my mind about some situations.
As I say often times in my Mom Tips everything begins with open and honest conversation.
Have you ever walked in your child’s shoes or does the “because I said so” rule apply in your house?
