That's Not True: When You and Your Kids See It Differently

Have you ever had your child say something to you and immediately thought...“That’s not true”?“You don’t trust me.”“You never do anything for me.”“You don’t love me.”As parents, our instinct may be to start explaining all the reasons they’re wrong.But what if we waited for just a moment before responding?In this episode of Empower My Teen, I’m talking about what happens when you and your child see the same situation completely differently.We all have our own feelings, perceptions, and experiences, but that doesn’t mean everything we feel or believe is necessarily a fact.Sometimes your child may have a point you haven’t considered.Sometimes you may know that what they’re saying simply isn’t factually true.And sometimes there may be a little truth on both sides.Instead of immediately deciding who is right, what might happen if we became curious first?A simple...“Tell me more about that.”...may give you a chance to understand why your child sees the situation the way they do.You may hear something you hadn’t considered. Or you may listen to everything they have to say and still disagree.Being curious about their perspective doesn’t mean giving up your own.Sometimes it matters less who is right or wrong and more that we stay in the conversation and stay connected. Need Support?If your teen is struggling and you’re unsure what to do next, schedule a complimentary consultation with me and talk about your family’s situation. Connect with Mary Warren at https://empowermyteen.com