Asking these four questions opens up the lines of communication between parent and child.
“Don’t just be a parent, be transparent” was Professor Martin’s second strategy shared. Professor Martin stated that children love parents but don’t trust them. How to change this idea is to not lie to your children.
Moving on to the next strategy of “be examples not excuses”. He states the following points of what this means of being an example not excuse:
Do what you want your children to do
Act like you want your children to act like
Respond the way you want your
children to respond
Allow yourself to listen the way you want your children to listen
Pick friends that you want your
children’s friends to be like
Treat your children the way you
want them to treat you
Raise your children the way you want them to raise their children
Seek forgiveness as you would like them to seek forgiveness
He tells parents to tell children everything you see me do, you do! Don’t settle for less.
The final strategy he shares is “don’t parent to protect, protect to parent” and to his children, "don’t be afraid to fail; people fail because they don’t try. He asked parents when they go to a parent-teacher conference to ask the teacher one question “is my child a joy to be in your class? If the answer is yes, you’re doing your job. Professor Martin stresses that grades are not the most important factor. Prepare, parent and protect your children. Tell your children you are proud of who they are.
Professor Martin ends his presentation by informing parents you should say these things to your children often:
~You love them
~You are proud of who they are (not what they did, but who they are)
~You won’t go away.
Professor Martin shared another message he sends his children off to school with each day “have a N.O.W. day”.
No Opportunity Wasted!