Parenting and Communication

Good Friday. I hope that you are all starting off the weekend well. Some thoughts on parenting and communication for you and your family as you go into the weekend.

Like a farmer who nurtures his field with good soil, water, and fertilizer, there are things that we can provide for our children that act as strong "nutrients" for healthy family relationships and the growth of healthy children. The interactions within a family, however, are only as effective as the means by which they are exchanged -- in other words, they rest upon a foundation of good communication.

Communication

Ask yourself, "How many times a day do I communicate with someone?" and then, "What method(s) do I use most often to communicate?" You may be surprised at the answers. In these days of computers and the Internet, many people initiate communication through electronic means -- email, chief among them - requiring no face-to-face human interaction. Cell phones and pagers make it easier for us to be "in touch" with each other, but are they really helping us to communicate? A common joke around many modern workplaces is that when the computer system goes down, the noise level goes up, because people actually take the time to go see each other and talk. How true is this of your own household?

Communication between parents and children is a commonly neglected area of family life. Communication that may have been established when children were young becomes more infrequent - and less meaningful - as children grow older. There are many reasons for this, but one of the most common is the absence of "family time." Up until the past several years, it was common for entire families to sit down together at dinner and to "share their day." This culturally-based custom served many purposes; it engaged the family in a common activity, it promoted sharing of events of the day, it offered a time to discuss needs or tell a funny story, and it also contributed to more physical needs by providing a regular and relaxed venue for eating a relatively balanced meal.

Today, things have changed. The majority of American families share few meals together. Fast-food and instant meals have edged out nutrition. Most importantly, the absence of "family time" around the dinner table has eliminated one of the most productive opportunities for communication within a family.

More on better family communication next time, including specific ways to communicate.

Have a blessed day and weekend.