One thing I’ve learned about raising boys is this: if you want them to talk to you about the serious things one day, you have to make it safe for them to talk to you about the little things today. My son was telling me about some girls they met, how they wanted their numbers and how they wanted to play hide and seek. Of course, I had my little fun with him first. 😄 But after the jokes, we talked. Because underneath what sounds like an innocent teenage story is an opportunity to teach. We talked about girls, friendships, attraction, boundaries, respect, peer pressure and some of the situations he may face as he gets older. Not because I want to frighten him or stop him from growing up, but because I want him to be prepared. Sometimes, as parents, our first reaction can determine whether our children come back and tell us something again. If every conversation becomes shouting, judgement or punishment, eventually they may learn to keep things from us. And the teenage years are exactly when I want that communication to remain open. Being approachable doesn’t mean there are no boundaries. It doesn’t mean allowing everything. You can be a parent, set boundaries, teach your values AND still be someone your child feels safe talking to. Our children are going to experience friendships, relationships, attraction, disappointment and mistakes whether we are ready or not. I would rather he comes home and tells me the story so we can laugh, talk and learn from it than have him navigating everything alone because he is afraid of my reaction. Raise them to respect you, yes. But also build the kind of relationship where they know: “I can tell Mum.” ❤️ #RaisingBoysAustralia #ParentingTeenagers #MumOfBoys #AustralianParenting #RaisingTeenBoys - @mom_to4boys