Have you ever looked back in disbelief at something you did as a kid? All kids mess up or make unwise choices—even kids who normally follow the rules. In this episode, Abby shares a story about a party she and her sister threw when their parents were out of town. Things got rowdy, and the police even showed up.
How do we discipline our kids but also remember they are independent people who exercise decision-making skills and sometimes make bad choices? Do you think you’ll react calmly when your kids do something rebellious? We have some ideas for how to keep your cool when they confess something and even how to talk to them so they’ll be more inclined to come to you to share when they’ve messed up.
We’ll help you get curious about the “why” behind your kids’ rebellion, and we’ll talk about which questions are the right ones to ask your kids when you catch them breaking one of your rules: How does the bad choice affect the people around you? What is the natural consequence? Questions like these can help kids process what they did and help them make better choices next time.
When kids mess up, they often lie about it, so we also discuss the bigger issue of character building. Every “mess up” is a chance to teach your children something: to trust you, to listen to their consciences, to discern friendships… The lessons go on and on.
Articles We Mentioned
5 Mistakes Even Good Kids Make
Do Strict Parents Make Sneaky Kids?
3 Ways to Show Your Kids They Can Talk to You About Anything
How Much of Your Past Should You Share With Your Kids?
Printables We Think You’ll Like
How do you handle it when your kid messes up, especially if it’s out of character?
