George Macdonald says, “To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved”
I believe that TRUST IS THE CURRENCY OF RELATIONSHIPS
Your Relationship with your Teenager has the opportunity to flourish when you acknowledge that you both have a deep desire to trust each other and severe fear that you will feel the pain of broken trust.
Here are 3 things you can do to make your relationship with your teenager RICH with Trust…
1. Teach your Teenager that Trust is the Pathway to Freedom- What many teachers want the most is to experience the freedom to make their own decisions. Help them understand that you can’t offer them that freedom until they earn trust.
2. Make a Plan to Rebuild Trust When it is Broken- We are most afraid of the “unknown”. When we have a plan to face a situation, we at least feel prepared. You are not as terrified of your teenager making a bonehead decision if you know how you will respond ahead of time. My suggestion for a response plan is offer a consequence with as little emotion as possible, give them specific expectations with a realistic time period to meet those expectations, and then celebrate with them when they have re-earned trust.
3. Realize it Goes Both Ways- You can bounce trust checks with your teenager just as easily as they can. Broken promises, Bad Moods, and Withdrawing Love because of disappointment are all ways we as parents break our children’s trust. Earn trust with them, and you will see your relationship shift dramatically.
My father taught me that communication is like Oxygen to a relationship. If that is true than TRUST has to be the currency.
