Do you sometimes feel like your kids don’t listen to your instruction? Like it goes in one ear and out the other? As you give them awesome advice, sometimes it can seem like they are just waiting for you to finish so they can go their own way. Right?
Here’s a thought for you that might help:
In order for them to receive, they have to believe.
Believe? What does that mean?
Well, think of how and why you receive advice well. First of all, it matters who the advice is coming from. Do you respect that person? Do you think they are wise in this area in which they are advising you?
Second, is that person out for you or themselves? Are they trying to get you to do something so it benefits you or them?
Third, do they really understand your situation? Have they assumed they know everything and started giving you advice when they really don’t understand the situation?
Knowingly or unknowingly, your children go through the same process as you. A silly example is when I jokingly tell my five-year-old grandsons some outrageous exaggerated requirement that is not true like they have to eat four sandwiches to get any ice cream for dessert. They trust me so they believe me at first and then they see my facial expressions and they say, “Pops, you’re just joking!” I can see their minds processing whether they believe what I say is true and whether they are going to receive it in their life — a discouraging thought of having to eat four sandwiches to get ice cream!
So how do we get our kids to believe in us so they receive from us?
We set an example. Are we willing to do ourselves what we ask them to do?
We make sure they know we have their best interests at heart, and we want the best for them.
We understand the issues before we give instruction.
Remember, the more your kids believe in you, the more likely they will receive from you.
