Our children need the same message from us. Trusting relationships can be established by allowing for some freedom and by keeping confidences. Another way to gain trust is to compliment young people. Too often, parents take the clumsy position of blocking the very communication doors we want our children to enter. They may laugh and play along, but deep down it hurts.
Children remember and replay hurtful comments to themselves for years.
Showing respect for young people allows for open communication. The stake president had approached them and asked if, since they had a spacious home very close to the chapel, they would mind hosting a luncheon for visiting General Authorities during stake conference. They gladly agreed. The teacher explained how she and her husband planned the menu, cleaned the entire house, and set out their best china. After all, the President of the Church was coming to visit their home, and they wanted to show proper respect.