Stop Being Awkward. Start Saying the Right Thing

Parenting

1. Recognize Individual Roles in Your Life
   One of my all-time favorite parenting books (which applies to adults too) is Faber and Mazlish’s How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk. They also wrote Siblings Without Rivalry, which is fantastic! In How to Talk, there’s a brilliant section on responding to a child who exclaims, “You love Sam more than me!” The authors highlight that saying, “I love you both equally,” often doesn’t cut it because we all crave unique love. They share a relatable adult scenario: When a wife asked her husband, “Who do you love more? Your mom or me?” she wasn’t looking for a generic answer. Instead, he responded, “My mom is my mom. You’re the amazing, captivating woman I want to spend my life with.” Now that’s a good response!
2. Provide Perspective
   Just days before my wedding, I was in full-on panic mode about every little detail that could go wrong (seriously, I was convinced my veil would fly off!). My mom patiently listened and then said something that calmed me down: “The things that go awry often turn into the best memories.” It really put everything into perspective.
3. Encourage Others to Discover Their Truth
   In Piers Anthony’s fantasy novel, A Spell for Chameleon, the character Bink is frustrated because he doesn’t know what kind of magic he has. To find out, he goes to the Good Magician Humpfrey, who requires a year of service for a question. Bink meets a manticora nearing the end of its service, who reveals it asked if it had a soul. The monster explains, “Only those with souls worry about them.” It turns out, the Magician’s response provided clarity that a simple yes or no wouldn’t have. It helped the manticora understand itself better—sometimes, the journey to find the answer is just as important as the answer itself.
4. Distinguish Between Big Issues and Minor Concerns
   My partner and I were collaborating on a project with a few others when one person accidentally hit “reply all” to a sensitive email that was meant just for us. After sending a nice note to the group, he lamented the mistake in a follow-up message to us. My partner responded with a perfect, understated message: “We’ve all done it.” This kind of response resonates because it acknowledges others’ feelings. Saying “Don’t be silly” or “It’s all going to be fine” dismisses real concerns. What people need is a sympathetic ear and a bit of perspective.

home insemination Kit

If you want to dive deeper into topics like these, check out our post on home insemination kits for some informative insights. And for a trusted perspective on artificial insemination, visit Make a Mom. For further reading on pregnancy and home insemination, you can explore Kindbody, which offers excellent resources.

Summary

Navigating conversations can be tricky, especially when it comes to emotions and relationships. By acknowledging individual feelings, providing perspective, encouraging self-discovery, and recognizing the difference between major and minor worries, we can communicate more effectively. These strategies can lead to deeper connections and understanding, making it easier to support one another.