It’s time to exhale; the election is over! You’ve prayed and voted. Now it’s time to discuss the winners and losers with your children in a constructive way so they learn how to express their views with clarity and conviction.
How to discuss post-election results with children:
Assign everyone a job
Don’t start with a list you want to discuss
Listen when your kids talk
Don’t allow siblings to mock or put down each other
Affirm each other
Don’t get into arguments
Ask leading questions
Over the years, we attended rallies and spoke with candidates to learn more about their policies and principles. When the polls closed, we would watch the election results come in as a family. Some of our candidates won and some lost. For weeks, we talked about what would happen next. I wanted them to learn life will go on. Once they grew-up, I wondered if they would take their responsibility seriously. They do! I’ve learned those post-election results conversations made a difference in how they process elections. Your children might not seem interested right now, but they are listening and learning from you. It’s your opportunity to influence your child, whether your candidate won or lost.
Elections can create tension between family members. But we can discuss politics, share our positions, and engage in dynamic conversations with our children without blow-ups and slammed doors! Here are some election-week tips!
Election Week Tips
Don’t expect complete agreement
Avoid negative verbal exchanges
Stop if tempers flare
Ask for clarification
Remain calm
It’s okay to press pause
You are raising young adults
When children understand that home is a safe place to express their opinions and discuss important political topics, they gain the confidence to participate in the election process as adults.
Do your words roll off your tongue and land in a tender place of your child’s heart or do they wound their spirit? Words have power, so using them carefully will help you strengthen your relationship and reduce conflict. It’s not always what you say, but what others hear that matters. You can build relationships by monitoring your mouth!
Could your child benefit from taking a gap year in in the fall? For many students a gap year is looking like a viable option. If you are the parent of a child who feels their future is in question, join me as I discuss the pros and cons of taking a gap year.
What are the pros and cons?
Is it worth it?
How should you discuss gap years with you child?
What about the fear of not going on to college after a year off?
Do you feel overwhelmed with managing, budgeting, or investing your money? You’re not alone. Women often lack the confidence they need to make wise money decisions. My guest, Ed Vargo, founder of enLightenHer.com, joins me as we identify the stumbling blocks that key YOU from creating a healthy money mindset.
About Ed Vargo
Ed is a 20+ year veteran of the financial services industry. While growing up in the inner city gave Ed a proper education in the school of hard knocks, he is also a strong proponent of a formal education. Ed holds numerous distinguished industry designations including being a CFP®, an AIF®, and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, amongst others. He is the founder of Burning River Advisory Group.
Ed saw his mother, a first generation immigrant, struggle as she was not educated in financial matters. A strong-willed and capable woman, she was nevertheless stuck in an unhealthy relationship, unable to control her own well-being. She was financially dependent and had few options for finding a better life. Eventually, she was able to find the power and resources to end the marriage but her struggles left a lasting imprint on Ed and the values he holds dear as a husband, father, and advisor.
Do you want to resolve conflict with your teen or others? Learning to listen is the first step to working through all conflicts. And when you practice your listening skills you will help your teens learn to be better communicators too.
