I am not talking about the educational or the political topics here. I am referring to the simple, personal ones.
Parents are often very focused on the particular decisions or behaviors of their teenager. They spend their time thinking or talking about the specifics. When did you come home last night? Where are you going with your friends tonight? Have you finished your homework? Why are your grades so low? How can I encourage you to go to college?
This topic requires that you step back a little, look a little broader, think about how important something really is, and put it in perspective. As we know, life is very simple and very complicated all at the same time. There is so much information coming at us all at once, and yet so little that is truly important in creating peace and happiness. The goal of this topic is to get us to focus on what is really important.
I know, those little things I mentioned earlier are mportant. Yes, they are. But if we spend our time focused on our belly button, we will miss that glorious sunset. I know it’s trite – but you really do need to take time to smell the roses. You teach your teen what matters the most in life by what you spend your time on and what you talk to them about. Don’t make it all about the belly button. Look up and out occasionally and share what you are thinking with your teen. I am a sunset nut, but there is just something that happens when I see one. Don’t expect your teen to go gaga over the sunsets. But it might be interesting if you shared why you do.
You might want to take a moment and read our Staying in the Present Series on our main blog page. It adds some more perspective to this one.
