Читать книгу Parent Voice - Russell J. Quaglia - Страница 16

We have all made resolutions that just do not stick. New Year’s Day is famous for that. Make this a resolution you keep: Turn down the noise and use your voice in a way that makes your children want to tune in. Start by assessing your own actions related to voice. How do you score yourself?

I demonstrate to my child that I believe I can learn a lot from him. _______

I regularly ask for my child’s thoughts and opinions. _______

I show my child I respect his ideas and perspectives. _______

I listen intently to my child. _______

I use my voice as a positive force for change. _______

I take responsibility for my voice and choices. _______

I am aware of the volume and tone of my voice when speaking with my child. _______

I communicate honestly and openly with my child. _______

I involve my child in age-appropriate decision making. _______

I encourage my child to use his voice effectively. _______

Obviously on any given day, parents might score themselves differently. Every parent experiences the feelings of being overwhelmed, over stressed, and over questioned! There is no average score for the above statements; rather, they are simply designed to cause parents to pause and consider their current actions related to voice and hopefully strive to change scores on the statements that matter the most to them and their children.

In addition, families interact in unique ways for various reasons, be it personalities, culture, or life circumstances. While RQ’s Italian heritage seems to require (very) loud voices to communicate, other families may struggle with helping a child understand that you do not have to be an extrovert to have your voice heard; talking nonstop is not the same as having a voice. Regardless of your voice challenges, the most important starting place is to understand the difference between noise and voice.