PARENTING May 28, 2007 Issue

'I DON'T WANT TO ...'

KATE DEARBORN

MOST PARENTS are very familiar with the phrase "learn to pick your battles." As the mother of a teenage daughter, I know I've had many opportunities to practice this advice.

There are certainly times when a parent's insistence on his or her view of a situation seems unquestionable—like wearing a coat outside on a cold day, or putting a seatbelt on in the car. But there are also times when parents can be so sure of their opinion that they—and their child—may miss out on valuable life-lessons.

When faced with my own child's reluctance to comply with my views, I've been finding that consistently listening for God's guidance, to discover the underlying issues, can bring unexpected results and long-term good.