In the world of athletics, the phrase “Bring your playbook and let’s talk” is code for “You’ve been cut”. As a matter fact, anytime you hear the phrase “Let’s talk” (whether it’s uttered by your boss, wife, or your kid’s teacher), it usually foreshadows that something of significance is about to happen or needs to be discussed. So it’s no wonder that Let’s Talk Month in October is not always so inspiring or met with warm embraces.
With that said, let me stress how important it is and what it really means.
Ironically, Let’s Talk Month is more about encouraging open dialogue with your kids over time versus a one-time lecture. It’s about talking with your kids about sex and healthy relationships and listening to what they have to say about that topic and other things. They have ideas, concerns, and questions that if nurtured correctly, will eventually come out in conversation and hopefully lead to healthy decisions.
If you’re the father of a toddler, the best time to start talking is before they can. Dads can be great story tellers and if you’re willing to invest 5-10 minutes a night on how you grew up, what you wish for them in the future, where you went on vacation and the things you did way back when, you’ll have built a relationship that lends itself to honest communication when it’s their time to talk. I often tell new parents that conversations about nothing at all will eventually lead to conversations about everything important.
Method 1- Tell Stories. It won’t take long for you to realize the impact of bed time stories. Soon they won’t go to bed without one, and you’ve become a rock star in that sense. Good stories include the use of all five senses and when you’re done, your children should know how it looked, sounded, smelled, tasted and felt when you worked on your uncle’s farm or tried out for the football team.
Method 2- Don’t go for the jugular right away. Quick dives into school troubles, friendship disputes or relationships issues could be a path into a stone wall. Conversations of significance need to be nurtured and if given enough time, the truth and worries will come out.
