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You
and your student may not always see eye-to-eye on certain
things. Politics, diversity, religion… there are
any number of hot-button topics that can start a verbal
tussle. With Election Day coming around this month,
it's a good reminder that these disagreements can actually
be good for your parent/student relationship.
The key is agreeing to disagree in a respectful, open-minded
manner. You can do that by:
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Engaging. Let your student know that, just because
you have had differences in opinion before, you're
still very interested in hearing what she has to say
about things. Don't avoid the tough topics.
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Listening. Allow your student to say his piece, without
interrupting to inject your opinion. Sometimes just
knowing that you're being listened to makes all the
difference in the world.
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Keeping an open mind. We can all change our minds
once we hear the facts-or those facts can clarify
a pre-existing opinion. It's all part of being a growing,
engaged human being.
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Not taking differences in opinion personally. If your
student takes a different stance than you do, it's
not because she hates you or disrespects you. It's
likely because she has had experiences that have led
her to form a different opinion. It's really not about
you.
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Sharing your pride. The fact that your student is
an independent, critical thinker, no matter his opinion,
can be a source of great pride. Don't forget to praise
your student for his abilities and his curiosity.
Having
an intentional discussion about agreeing to disagree
is an important step in developing an adult relationship
with your student. Let the conversations begin!
Copyright
2005. PaperClip Communications www.paper-clip.com
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