March 2, 2011

• Are You Alright?

  I love to listen to my kids communicate with each other.  It is often some of the best and most entertaining conversations I hear. 

  Overheard the other day:

  Sibling 1, "Are you alright?"

  Sibling 2, "Yes."

  Sibling 1, "Then act like it."

  I think sometimes we can pick up the habit of being sour.  I think it can start as early as childhood.  We can have sour expressions or attitudes.  We can be slightly uncomfortable and our body language will express we're miserable. 

  I have a friend whose son is now a teenager.  She shared with me how that when he was small he wouldn't talk to anybody.  Everywhere they went he acted unhappy to be there because he was shy.  He struggled with interacting with new people.  She explained to her son that when people talked to him and he didn't answer it was rude.  She let him know that from then on when someone spoke to him he HAD to look them in the eye and respond.  If he didn't, he would lose certain privileges.  Over time, he remembered the consequences of not responding.  He formed a new habit.  He is now a very polite and outgoing young man.  I'm so proud of his momma for realizing the importance of teaching him to look people in the eye.  It will help him immensely in his adult life no matter what education and career choices he makes. 

  So the new thing in our house? 

  When someone doesn't have a pleasant look we ask,

   "Are you alright?" 

  "Yes." 

  "Then act like it."

  

  
  

  • 7:02 am
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