Big Boy Pants

Being a parent mens having hard conversations, once you have built trust.

My son is eight years old. My daughter is also eight years old. The defining moments as a parent are not necessarily the ones you would choose. Kids learn from what we say. They learn more, however, from what we do. They learn when we're kind. They learn when we're angry. They learn when we're vindictive. Kids are noticing champions. Interpreting—as their parents would like—isn’t their core competency.

Children are constantly learning because they have so much to learn. It's a complicated world; they need values and knowledge to get through it. We're not communicating those values and facts to little humans absent any temperament or inclinations. Our children are made of the same stuff that made their parents. You can have a plan for where you're going to teach your kids all day long, but what they're going to learn might be different.

What is the difference between internalized lessons that become part of your kid's moral fiber and those that are interesting…but irrelevant? O…