Hard Conversations, Where to Start?

Did your kid really just ask you that deep question about life? Where babies come from? Why does she have two daddies? Where did grandma go? The list is endless, and perhaps your answers are not. Have books help you with those hard conversations. As a parent it is your job to explain the good, bad, and the ugly to your children. Some of these conversations we dread, some we look forward to, and others we just plain hope they never pop up. Those are the ones that you may need a little more help on, but you might not want to go around asking others for advice. The best option is to find a book that can prepare you for the conversation as well as guide your child through it. Books offer a great concrete way to talk about possibly abstract subjects. It will help your child gain a better grasp on things. Some books might even have multiple pieces; one for you and one for your child with pictures or activities.

You have on your superhero capes every day, and your children look up to you as someone who knows everything. Then one day they ask you a question that stops you in your tracks. Do I answer? What do I say? Do I ignore it? Are they asking other people this? So many questions may flood your mind. If you are not ready to have the conversation at hand, then give your child an answer along the lines of ‘we will talk about this together at a special time’. Or ‘please hold your questions and I promise we will talk it all through before the end of the week’. Not to say that they are going to like that answer, but give them the best answer you can; you know your child the best so go with your gut. Now luckily the younger they are the less they are going to ask. The older they are, the more likely they will be able to understand what you mean when you say we will come back to this conversation in a couple of days. You’re not off the hook though, kids remember EVERYTHING. They will not let you forget this conversation. You will need to be prepared in the near future, so a book will be a great place to help you start. Next stop barnesandnoble.com with rush delivery!

Some topics are not what we ever thought parenting would be, but we are our children’s first teachers, and we want to be their best. It may be a sensitive subject, but wouldn’t you rather your child hear it from you rather than asking anyone else. You lose the control of subject that way. They will remember the way they were told first. The second person who changes things is the liar in their eyes and the one that will confuse them. Be the first person! You have lots of resources at your fingertips to help you get your point across in a graceful way. You’ve got this.

-Ms. Brooke
Curriculum & Literacy Coordinator
Lead Pre-K Teacher