Meaningful Relationship

A group of fellow parents including myself have been discussing parenting topics of creating meaningful relational moments with our children. 

The goal of having great “relational experience” with our kids is so when they reach the age and time to make important decisions of their life, we (the parent) are at the position to give influential advice because of the excellent relationship we have worked hard for during the early years. 

As a parent, of course I want to have a say when any one of my boys are choosing their college major, choosing a career path, deciding who to date, or who to marry.   However, it has been brought to our attention that many parents may not have earned the ‘relationship position’ to be listened to.  Thus the kid would listen more to the advice of their fellow friends or influential teacher or other adult they respect or even listen to that boy/girlfriend we don’t like.  

The theory is that children without great relationship with their parents would certainly not seek their parents for advice when they need to chose.  Then the only way to get them to do what we want is if we are bigger and stronger than them (we can pick them up and strap them into a seat) or because we have something they don’t (bribing with ‘don’t you want to use the car?’). 

So how can we, as parents, after all we have been through to raise our kids, be in that influential position?

It is certainly a food for thought to think about building meaningful relationships, in our current circumstances, to turn every possible moment into influential moments with our children.