I heard her first. Annoyed by the crying, I looked over. The little girl appeared to be about five years old with long, jet black hair pulled back with a bow. Her mom held her closely in the seat of the cart while her cries steadily grew louder. … [Read more...]
How to Master the Art of Listening
As parents, we often feel the pressure to have all the answers. While imparting wisdom can be important, it is worthless if we’re not heard. If we are to parent well, we must improve our ability to listen. Empathic listening is the one practice upon which all parenting successes and failures rest. Stephen R. Covey explains empathic listening in his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Empathic listeners “seek first to understand, then to be … [Read more...]