Be a friend, not an all-knowing authority.

We’ve all had one of those days…a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, like Alexander in Judith Viorst’s famous book. Sometimes when we have those days, we don’t look forward to talking to anyone. 

Youth feel the same way. And sometimes they dread talking with adults because we tend to go into “fix-it” mode, telling them how to deal with their problems, instead of recognizing where the child is at.

Simply hanging out and talking is so helpful to a young person’s healthy development. Young people learn more conversing with adults than they do just listening to them.

The next time a young person in your life is having a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, let them take the lead by just spending time with them and not trying to solve their problem until they ask for your help.