Sip on this soup from Mr. Josh Shipp.
Here are seven things that every kid needs to hear, regardless of their age or stage in the journey …
𝟭. 𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂.
This is crucial. Always be intentional in saying this to your kids. If they don’t hear it from you, who will they hear it from?
𝟮. 𝗜’𝗺 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂.
As parents or caring adults, we must applaud effort more than achievement. Achievement is often subjective to the group we are competing against. Don’t ask them to be the MVP of the team but encourage them to be a TEAM player.
𝟯. 𝗜’𝗺 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆.
We have to model what it looks like to be an adult and apologize when we make mistakes. Kids learn a little bit from what we say; they learn a little more from what we do but learn the most from what we model.
𝟰. 𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂.
Young people must know if you want to succeed, you must be willing to fail. They are going to screw up; it happens! The question is always: what will you do when you mess up? By saying I forgive you, kids know it’s ok to admit mistakes.
𝟱. 𝗜’𝗺 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴.
Once your child is a pre-teen or teen, the name of the game isn’t about control; it’s about influence. You can’t control a 15-year old, but you can influence them to make mature decisions by listening and asking them strategic questions.
𝟲. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. Don’t bail your kid out of problems they can solve. Instead, take the posture of a COACH: Prepare them before the game. Cheer from the sidelines during the game. Review what went well and didn’t after the game.
𝟳. 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀.
They need to know that YOU know they have what it takes. If they know you believe in them, they’re better prepared to take baby steps to accomplish their goals and face those difficult situations.
LAST BUT NOT LEASE: NO.
Sometimes the most loving and caring thing you can tell a kid is NO. Rest assured, they won’t like it at the moment. But later, they shall circle back and praise your brilliance. Saying NO to the wrong things allows us to say YES to the right things.