Have you ever caught your kids in the act?
My 16-year-old son enjoys wearing his AirPods (much like his dad) to listen to music, audiobooks, and podcasts, etc.
In the world of noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds where you can easily be in your own little private world, I’ll randomly ask him what he’s listening to for accountability (he’s also allowed to ask me too :).
Last week, to my surprise, his response really encouraged me… “I’m listening to preaching. I love this preaching podcast and I try to listen to every message each week.”
As a dad, my default is often to have my guard up to “catch my kids in the act”, but I’m always encouraged when I catch them in the act of doing the right things.
These are great opportunities to affirm and praise them. Say what you want to see—Because you always get more of what you affirm or more of what you criticize.
In fact, in response to Seth, I told him, “That encourages me. You and your choices make me really proud.”
Sometimes as parents we can default to negative thinking about our kids and what they’re up to behind our backs. Unfortunately, that negativity comes out without us always realizing it in the way we interact with them.
I’m all for accountability in the home (would you have trusted yourself as a teenager?). But I’m even more for creating and fostering a purposeful environment of encouragement and positivity.
It’s always going to be easy to find and even look for the bad things or areas of improvement in our kids… but then forget to highlight the good things they’re also getting right.
“Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking.” -Zig Ziglar
My son, Seth, loves preaching. My son, 14-year-old son, Shane, loves “Jesus” conversations. These are great things that deserve my attention. Because my boys notice the things that I emphasize, whether for good or bad.
Your kids are noticing too. This week, find that thing or things that you can intentionally praise your child for—Catch them in the act! And see how they respond to your positivity.
Will it surprise them?
If so, why not make it part of the new you moving forward?!
“Whatsoever things are true… honest… just… pure… lovely… of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8
