PARENTING February 4, 2002 Issue

What I've learned about listening

By Jewel Simmons

MY SON , Douglas, knows he can come to talk to me . . . about anything. Really.

But, it didn't just happen that way. I've worked fairly hard over the years to be an approachable parent. Driving him back from our home to his college dorm room one night, I decided to take it a step farther. I told him that it was most important to me that he knew he could come talk to me—about anything he might run up against, no matter what it was. That I really wanted to support him if he needed help dealing with a problem. Or with praying. I promised not to get mad or criticize him if he made a mistake—adding that it might be wise to preface anything really serious by reminding me of these words.

A few weeks ago, while Doug was home during winter break, he approached me in the kitchen and asked me if he could talk to me. It was obvious that something serious was on his mind. It turned out to be very personal. Part of the problem he had solved on his own while praying and reading Science and Health the night before. But he had more questions—a few real doozies.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

A response to the Yates trial