Will You Communicate By Mo-o-o-o-orse?

Cat goes meow. Bird goes tweet. But when your kids try to communicate with you, do you really know what they are saying? 

Communicating with your child can sometimes seem impossible. Whether it's because of generational differences, or lack of clarity, communication between parent and child can be madness. Just when one of our kids makes it easy and it seems like we've got it all figured out, our other child challenges every word leaving us wondering if we have a clue. 

So before you find yourself changing your child's first name to Just Do It, take a moment to step back and give these ideas a try.

Don't just talk; listen. Our children need direction. They should be allowed to ask questions in order to grasp what you are expecting or asking them to do. It takes time on our part to be willing to slow down long enough for them to do this. If we're honest, we'd rather give an order and have it accomplished then sit down and hear a story about a unicorn dancing on a rainbow. But, more often than not, once they feel like you've cared enough to listen to the things they deem important, the more they desire to please you.   

Be available for your child. This morning my youngest daughter wanted me to follow her to the bathroom. It didn't make a lot of sense because she's been an independent potty warrior for quite some time. For me to stop doing what I was in the middle of, just to walk her 10 feet from where she already was, seemed like a mild inconvenience. I did it anyway. The payoff came the very moment I got up to be with her. She grabbed my hand and said, "Thank you, daddy!" Just to know that someone wants you to be near them should motivate us to always be ready for them. She felt safe and loved. And that's really all she wanted. 

Be Honest. You may be the authority and you may be the parent, but you're not Jesus. Each of us make mistakes and fall short of being perfect. Don't try to fake it with your kids. They will see through it and use it to terrorize you. When you're having a trying day, invite them in to pray for you. Give them the chance to communicate from their hearts to the caretaker of us all. You'd be surprised how willing they are to take you up on the offer. And when they realize you trust them with you're hardest moments, they'll be ready to let you into theirs. 

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." - Psalm 19:14

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