{"id":44094,"date":"2014-03-02T19:14:44","date_gmt":"2014-03-03T01:14:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.austincnm.com\/?p=44094"},"modified":"2014-03-02T23:40:53","modified_gmt":"2014-03-03T05:40:53","slug":"four-attitudes-evangelical-parenthood-readiness-dialogue-part-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2014\/03\/four-attitudes-evangelical-parenthood-readiness-dialogue-part-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Four Attitudes of Evangelical Parenthood: Readiness for Dialogue – Part 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Pope<\/a>The second attitude of Evangelical Parenthood lies in a readiness for dialogue. \u00a0All too often, as a parent, we can be “preachy”. \u00a0That is, we desire to control any conversation to the extent that there may be a difference of opinion or lack of time. \u00a0We, some of us more than others, really need to try and avoid this temptation. \u00a0Here are a few things to keep in mind as we attempt to cultivate this attitude of readiness to dialogue:<\/p>\n

1. \u00a0Remember that “di” means two<\/strong>. \u00a0A “dialogue” means that words flow between two persons on a particular topic. \u00a0Our kids need to know that we care about what they have to say or what they are feeling. \u00a0So, make sure we participate in dialogues daily with our children. Because of time or because we know we are right on a subject, we can turn a dialogue into a monologue, a sermon. \u00a0Oh, there are times for sermons. \u00a0However, we need to make time for dialogues, for conversations. \u00a0Even if we know we are right, walking them through our way of thinking can actually have a much more lasting impact on our children than a sermon. \u00a0It may take more time, but it probably will have a more lasting impact.<\/p>\n

2. Have set times to talk at least weekly with your child.<\/strong> \u00a0For us, having a set date night with a child once every couple or three months can partially fill this need. \u00a0The “date night” can be a time of more intimate and less time-constrained conversation. \u00a0However, two or three months is too long between discussions. \u00a0So, time should be made or at least captured regularly. \u00a0In our home, we “capture” time \u00a0on the way to a practice or on the way over to a friend’s house to spend the night. \u00a0It might be only 10 minutes, but if taken advantage of over time, those little “spurts” of dialogue add up, and they communicate a readiness to dialogue. \u00a0Have some questions ready to get a dialogue going. \u00a0Here are some that we use, “What was the hardest thing you did today?”, “What made you laugh today?”, “What was the most annoying thing that happened to you today”, “What are you most proud of today?” \u00a0Be ready to answer the question yourself as an example. \u00a0Pray for them to be truly open with their response. \u00a0Listen to them and see where it goes. \u00a0The purpose, more than anything, is to show them that you care about what they have to say.<\/p>\n

3. Have set times to dialogue with your spouse regarding your children.<\/strong> \u00a0Date nights, couch time, kitchen time, or car time must be part of a daily, certainly a weekly, routine. \u00a0Date nights are very important. \u00a0However, for us, they happen intermittently. \u00a0A lot can happen with our children in between our date nights. \u00a0Parents must dialogue daily, and the kids should be part of the conversation. \u00a0Day to day, parents, particularly the one who spends more time with them (like a stay at home mom), should have a pretty good gauge on what children are struggling with, what they need help with, etc. \u00a0So, make time to talk together. \u00a0Set 15 – 20 minutes aside right after work in order to discuss the kids and their behavior on the couch in the living room or in the kitchen while you get dinner ready. \u00a0Don’t wait until bed time. \u00a0It’s too important. \u00a0Literally, set a timer for 20 minutes and tell the kids, barring a fire in the house, a flood, or blood, that mom and dad need to talk without interruption. \u00a0Make it sacred time. \u00a0Make it visible to the kids as well. \u00a0Go sit on the couch or hang out in the kitchen and talk. \u00a0Discuss any particular situation that happened that day or even a recurring problem with a child. \u00a0Discuss how the two of you together are going to try to handle it. \u00a0It’s a time to get on the same page. \u00a0If we can’t make couch or kitchen time, sometimes we’ll go together to take one of the kids to practice and discuss on the way there and on the way back. \u00a0We have car time. \u00a0Bottom line, parents must have a readiness for dialogue between each other.<\/p>\n

4. Be ready for unplanned, but necessary dialogue.<\/strong> \u00a0Not everything in a family can fit perfectly into a schedule. \u00a0Emergencies happen. \u00a0As such, we have to be flexible with our time, particularly as \u00a0it pertains to dialogue between a parent and a child. \u00a0The child needs to know that you are available if something happens. \u00a0Be known for being available to talk if the son strikes out to lose the game or if the daughter and her best friend have had a fight. \u00a0If they are crying or are very happy, make time for them to be able to dialogue with you. \u00a0Sometimes, those times come at less than opportune moments. \u00a0Stop what you are doing and have a conversation. \u00a0Be known for your readiness to dialogue.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The second attitude of Evangelical Parenthood lies in a readiness for dialogue. \u00a0All too often, as a parent, we can be “preachy”. \u00a0That is, we desire to control any conversation to the extent that there may be a difference of opinion or lack of time. \u00a0We, some of us more than others, really need to… [Read More]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":157,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[671],"tags":[55,1905,51,2107,1124,62,2890,81,165,1505,74],"class_list":{"0":"post-44094","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-column","7":"tag-catholic-2","8":"tag-catholic-parenthood","9":"tag-catholicism","10":"tag-christian-parenthood","11":"tag-evangelical","12":"tag-evangelization","13":"tag-family","14":"tag-marriage","15":"tag-parenting","16":"tag-pope-francis","17":"tag-prayer","18":"entry"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":43618,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2014\/01\/four-attitudes-evangelical-parenthood\/","url_meta":{"origin":44094,"position":0},"title":"Four Attitudes of Evangelical Parenthood","author":"Trey and Stephanie Cashion","date":"January 30, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Parents are called to evangelize their children - to be evangelical parents. \u00a0Yet, all too frequently many of us fail to answer the call to share the \"Good News\" with them because we never preach the Gospel to our children. \u00a0We leave that to the priest in the Sunday homily\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Column"","block_context":{"text":"Column","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/column\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pope Francis","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/8562320076_7962a945e8_o-241x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":45272,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2014\/04\/four-attitudes-evangelical-parenthood-non-judgmental-warmth-welcome\/","url_meta":{"origin":44094,"position":1},"title":"Four Attitudes of Evangelical Parenthood: A Non-Judgmental Warmth and Welcome","author":"Trey and Stephanie Cashion","date":"April 10, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Judge not, that you be not judged\u00a0(Matthew 7:1) The last attitude of evangelism laid out by Pope Francis is a non-judgmental warmth and welcome. \u00a0As parents, our children need to know that we love them regardless of what they do. \u00a0They need to know that they can come to us\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ACNM"","block_context":{"text":"ACNM","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pope Francis","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/8562320076_7962a945e8_o-241x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":44596,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2014\/03\/four-attitudes-evangelical-parenthood-patience-part-4\/","url_meta":{"origin":44094,"position":2},"title":"Four Attitudes of Evangelical Parenthood: Patience – Part 4","author":"Trey and Stephanie Cashion","date":"March 13, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"The third attitude of evangelical parenthood is patience. \u00a0As we write this, we've just returned from a stint at the grocery store - one that we thought was going to be 30 minutes. \u00a0An hour and a half later, we've just put up the last of the groceries. \u00a0And \u2026.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Column"","block_context":{"text":"Column","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/column\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pope Francis","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/8562320076_7962a945e8_o-241x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":43762,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2014\/02\/four-attitudes-evangelical-parenthood-approachability-part-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":44094,"position":3},"title":"Four Attitudes of Evangelical Parenthood: Approachability – Part 2","author":"Trey and Stephanie Cashion","date":"February 13, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"In order to answer our parental vocation to evangelize our children, Pope Francis says we must be approachable to our kids. \u00a0We must develop and cultivate an attitude of approachability. \u00a0As a parent, you want your children coming to you to ask difficult questions, right?! \u00a0After all, if they don't\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Column"","block_context":{"text":"Column","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/column\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pope Francis","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/8562320076_7962a945e8_o-241x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":41875,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2013\/10\/pope-francis-and-parenthood\/","url_meta":{"origin":44094,"position":4},"title":"5 Things Pope Francis Can Teach Parents About Parenthood – Part 1 of 6","author":"Trey and Stephanie Cashion","date":"October 9, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Pope Francis has taught us quite a bit about parenthood. \u00a0In word and deed and in just the first six months as \"Papa\", his words and his actions have taught us and can teach any parent something about raising children. \u00a0Today, we'd like to share some of what we've learned\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Column"","block_context":{"text":"Column","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/column\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pope Francis and Holy Spirit","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Pope-Francis-and-HS-300x221.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":41712,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2013\/09\/newevangelizationparenting\/","url_meta":{"origin":44094,"position":5},"title":"New Evangelization, Reality TV, and Parenting","author":"Trey and Stephanie Cashion","date":"September 26, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Effective parenting calls for new ways of communicating the Faith to children. In essence, parents must answer the call to the New Evangelization in their own homes with their own children. \u00a0As parents, we're called to find ways in every day life to convey the truths of the faith in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Column"","block_context":{"text":"Column","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/column\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"http:\/\/www.dreamstime.com\/royalty-free-stock-photos-parenthood-concept-image24681298","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/dreamstime_s_24681298-300x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44094","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/157"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44094"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44094\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44094"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}