My friend emailed me the other day after one of my teachable moment posts and reminded me of an important point: not every teachable moment should be taught.
The point is that kids kids need a balance.
While as parents, we are charged with helping them learn the ropes in life, an equally important goal for us is to provide our children with a safe environment. Part of which is the feeling that when they tell us something, we listen, carefully. That we repect what they have to say. That we hear and understand them. That we accept them. That they are loved for being who they are as they are.
When we teach really things are about us, whereas when we listen, things are about them. And they realize this to.
So ultimately, it is a balance. But isn’t most everything in life?