Image: Flickr/Mark Engelbrecht

“I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.” (Harry S. Truman)

There’s no way the 33rd President of the United States was advocating for some sort of free-for-all parenting style. This isn’t about letting your children do whatever they wish. It’s about how you handle yourself when they come to you seeking wisdom.

There’s a fundamental problem all parents face. We have a difficult time realizing that our children are separate from us. We can’t read their minds. We don’t know them as well as we like to think we do. They’re growing and changing — often more rapidly than we realize.

Next time your child comes to you seeking help with something, take some time to find out what he or she really wants, deep down in their core. What do they want most? If you take the time to learn that and advise them accordingly, the chances of your child actually listening to you grows exponentially.