Sometimes It's Not Advice You Want But a Listening Ear

by Stephanie Romero | More from this Blogger

14 Feb 2011 06:53 AM

I never thought I would say this but my youngest son, who is only in 6th grade, has lately been more work for me than my 16 year old and 13 year old combined. I don't know if I should put that on the fact that my two older teens are just exceptionally well behaved or that I have an exceptionally challenging youngest child.

All I know is that all of your parenting skills seem to go right out the window when you are dealing with a child who challenges you unlike anything you have had to deal with. And to think...he is only a preteen.

I guess it goes to show that a parent must always be on their toes. What you thought you knew about parenting may not be what it is. Each child is different, with unique personalities and character traits.

So last week I was sharing with some friends the struggles I was having. You are always bound to get advice. I don't know that I was really looking for advice. I think I was more or less looking for a listening ear, because I suddenly found myself on the defensive.

I guess my fault was that I should have stated from the beginning, "Look, this is what I am going through and I could just really use some prayer." It's kind of hard to say, "Listen to my woes but don't offer me any advice."

Yet how quick I can do the same as a friend pours out to me the struggles she is having and I tend to believe that I have all the answers. I think what I have learned from this is that as a friend, when someone shares with me struggles they are having I am going to ask, "Did you want me to offer some advice or do you just need me to listen?"

Sometimes you really do want to hear advice but other times you just need to someone to hear you out.

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Learn more about Stephanie Romero

Stephanie Romero is a professional blogger for Families and independent contractor for We Do Web Content. She has been married for 20 years and is the mother of three children ages 13, 15 and 18.

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