Boy, is life busy.
It is September, so school is in session. Which also means that soccer practices, dance classes, chess clubs, debate teams, and a whole host of other extra curricular activities are in full swing.
Not only that, but there’s nightly homework, endless piles of laundry, and squabbles between siblings, friends, and family members to untangle.
And that doesn’t even include work. And cooking dinner. Oh, and making school lunches. And coordinating schedules with your child’s dad.
For single moms, the school year is like a marathon, run at breakneck pace.
Then, someone (like a teacher, or counselor, or the author of this article) tells you that it’s really important to listen to your child.
“When is that supposed to happen, exactly?” you think.
With our lightning-speed lives and jam-packed schedules, actively listening to our kids seems like a far-off luxury.
Yet, as we discussed in the first part of this series, listening has major benefits for your child. Real benefits, ike boosting self-esteem and minimizing the risk of depression.
So, how can you build listening into your daily schedule - even if that schedule doesn’t have an inch of space?
I promise you that it’s possible. Let’s take a look.
Listening Strategies for Crazy-Busy Single Moms...
Prioritize Family Meals
An American Study reported that family meals decreased the risk of alcohol use, tobacco use, and drug abuse.
“Through family meals, family members are aware of the concept of community, talk about various family issues, and express affection and connectedness,: says the US National Library of Medicine.
Maintaining a tradition of eating together provides a space for connection and sharing. Even if it’s just for fifteen minutes before homework, or a weekend lunch-on-the-fly; spending a little time at the dining table just catching up about life can have major benefits for your child.
Close Your Computer
This one is hard. But it really does work. Practice taking a break from technology, even if it means turning off your phone just for an hour while you’re cooking dinner. Unplugging for a little while gives you an amazing chance to re-engage with the world around you.
You may be surprised by the connection you feel with your child, just by simply walking away from the cell phone, turning off the radio, or closing your laptop.
Schedule Time Together
“To encourage your kid to use you as a sounding board or confidant, you need to have consistent private time with each other,” says an article in Today.
The key here is that the time is scheduled in. Too often, we expect moments of togetherness to crop up, but they never occur.
This means scheduling a weekly walk to the neighborhood basketball courts, taking a morning jog, or creating a tradition of hot chocolate together at the local coffee shop on Thursday evenings. A regular, predictable time together will set the stage for deeper communication.
Practice… Again & Again.
Ever catch yourself arguing with your child - when he or she was just trying to share an experience with you? Notice that you have trouble concentrating while your son or daughter tells you a story? Realize you’ve been checking your phone in the middle of mother-daughter conversations? Or, find yourself cutting your child off?
Listening is a skill that’s developed over time. By simply practicing, you can master the art of listening; and help your child grow up healthy, happy, and strong.
Summary of Parts I and III: Part one of this series takes a look at the reasons listening is so important. Part three discusses real techniques for listening to your child.
