Does Son Know I Think He's A Disappointment
Written by Craig Rogers, Posted on , in Section Teens & Tweens
Taylor, a high school student told his mother he wanted to drop out of school. Her first reaction was to lecture him about how important high school was and what a failure he would be in life. Instead of speaking, she asked several open questions. The conversation resulted in him saying he had been made fun of at school. It gave her the opportunity to discuss the real issue, which was one he would have never divulged had she quickly injected with her answers.
Listening Can Be The Most Important Way to Communicate With Your Son
Parents are human and as much as they love their child, it is sometimes difficult to hide disappointment in their perceived success or failures. Young adults may feel like their parents are disappointed in them even if the parent truly is not. If either of these may be the case, it is important to correct this perception with your son. A parent is who a child looks to for validation. Without that, your son may feel low self-esteem. Low self-esteem leads to other destructive behaviors and may create a self-fulfilling prophecy. Find a way to positively influence your child and recognize their achievements no matter how great or small. One of the most fundamental needs of any human being is to be understood. Spending time asking your son questions about him can start the process. Your first efforts may not be well received and they may be reluctant to answer.
