I encourage parents to try to remember a time when they had emotions flowing with no clear understanding as to their source or why they react to certain words or actions the way they do. What all parents must recognize is that they must begin the long road to the very personal, human relationships with their children that will open the doors of communication, trust, mutual respect,and hope. Quality time is not a trip to the movies but rather a soda at a private table where any conversation is welcome and encouraged. Parents have to learn to listen and communicate at their places of work, but they often miss this step in their own homes. Children have wonderful insights into the workings of the world, interesting perceptions of their parents' thoughts and expectations and heartwarming hopes and dreams that should be shared with their parents.
Children are exceptional communicators when they know they have a truly connected listener.
Parents are not trained to truly listen to their children. We are not going to suddenly have our children opening up to us with ultimate trust. We must each learn to truly connect to those we care about. This means possibly giving up a favorite TV show each night, bingo, visiting with the neighbor or other routine events that could be replaced by 30 minutes of undivided attention to our children's thoughts, concerns, questions and to our sharing of our own thoughts, concerns and questions. Life is not forever.