Small Talk: Be Who You Are With Your Kids

When we try to become too much like the generation we’re called to lead, we miss out on leaving an impression that is uniquely ours.  Not only do our kids not want us to act like them in order to relate better, they don’t need us to do that. The most genuine and meaningful moments I have with my students are when I am authentically me. Give your kids your perspective; impart your point of view. No, it’s not what their friends are dishing out, or pop culture—it’s what they need to learn from you. Show them who you are, how you live, how you love, how you thrive. They may not say it but kids rely on their parents and mentors to be a voice of solidarity and maturity in their lives. When I'm teaching, I never apologize for being more seasoned and more experienced. I own it and I use it to help my students become who they are meant to be. Embrace that you are older, wiser and able to help navigate the ups and downs of their lives. Be what they can only get and only want to get, from you.