Daily text, Tuesday, December 20. 2016

[Queen Esther]

                        Parents  —  Shepherd  Your  Children....

Do not be exasperating your children, so that they do not become downhearted.—Col. 3:21.

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/dt/r1/lp-e/2016/12/20

If your children are to open up to you, they need to view you as available and approachable. When parents always appear to be too busy to talk, youths in the family are likely to keep their problems to themselves. And what about being approachable? More is involved than simply saying the words, “You can come to me anytime.” Your teens need to sense that you will neither discount their problems nor overreact to them. Instead, aim for a balanced approach. A young sister named Emily observes: “When my parents talk to me about dating, they don’t make the subject seem negative. They emphasize the joy of getting to know someone and finding a marriage mate. This has helped me to feel comfortable talking to them about it. In fact, I want to involve them in any relationship I have rather than hide it from them.” You too can show that you are approachable by patiently listening to your children.—Jas. 1:19. w14 9/15 3:6-8