REMEMBER NOT TO JUDGE
This can be extra hard , I think , with our kids . We are so accustomed to thinking about the responsibility of protecting and guiding our children that alarm bells go off when we hear something that sounds upsetting or unfamiliar or scary . But an emotional reaction isn ’ t going to promote continued conversation . A good rule of thumb is to have a handy remark available like , “ I want to think about this a bit ” or “ Can we continue talking about this later ?” Sometimes what we need is a little time to consider how to respond to or absorb the information . Other times we might need to consult a professional or other resource about a specific concern .
MAINTAIN PRIVACY
When our children confide in us , it is demonstrating their trust in our ability to maintain their privacy . It is a good idea to consider how we would feel in the same situation about sharing personal information .
REMEMBER , WE ’ RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE PERFECT
It is a relief to realize that we can ’ t be perfect , but it doesn ’ t mean we can ’ t try to continually improve our communication skills . It is helpful when our adolescent / young adult children know that we don ’ t expect perfection from ourselves or them . n
Lisa Cashion , LCMHC , NCC , founder of SparkWell Counseling , is a licensed counselor , life coach and educator who supports high achievers in designing a healthier more balanced lifestyle .
SparkWell Counseling and Coaching provides energetic and solution-oriented support for individuals and couples who are looking for more clarity and balance in their lives .
Find out more about SparkWell offerings at sparkwellcounseling . com .
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