How to Connect With Your Children

Even your stubborn, silent, monosyllabic children.

Are you having problems connecting with your children?

You may have tried to take one out for lunch or take one for a walk, and they remained silent most of the time. Monosyllabic. Sometimes, companionable silence can be a good thing, but it can’t be the only thing.

Why does it feel like you have to get the jaws of life to pry open their mouth?

Ask yourself a few questions:

• Whenever they have tried to talk to me in the past, have I shut them down? You might think there will always be a next time, but what if that was the last time?

• How excited did I act the last time they talked to me about something? Were you disinterested? Did you act like it was no big deal? When he showed you the new toy he got from McDonald’s, did you just shrug your shoulders?

• Whenever we talk, does it always devolve into a lecture? Yeah, you have a lot to teach. But have you listened? Have you spent time with your children with absolutely no ulterior motive?

If you answered any of these in the affirmative, then you might have some damage control to do.

Our children are tender. Like a growing sapling, too much stress will cause it to break. Nurture it properly, and it will grow deep roots and become resilient.

What is the easiest way to get your kid to open up?