Family Relationships

There are two things that kids and teens need more than anything else: warmth and structure. Our children benefit when we make a point of enjoying their company and when life at home follows predictable patterns.

Our relationships at home teach our kids what to expect from their relationships everywhere else. Treating our children with respect, and expecting them to be respectful, helps them to hold high standards for all of their relationships.

When kids and teens bring us their problems, they’re usually looking for empathy, not suggestions. If you’re unsure of how best to be supportive, ask, “Do you want my help, or do you just need to vent?”

While we often feel most connected to our children and teens when we are having deep or important conversations, our kids often feel most connected to us when they get to enjoy our quiet, agenda-less company.

Kids can be impulsive and sometimes say things in anger that they immediately regret. To keep things moving in the right direction, consider saying, “Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that,” or “Would you like a do-over?”