Yes and I think it is also really important for our children to feel equally important in our family. We may have different roles and responsibilities but we’re of equal value. By sharing my day, my hopes, my worries with my children (appropriately according to their age and maturity of course) then I am communicating that we share things not because ‘Dad is checking up on me’ but because ‘he wants me to be a part of his life’. I believe this is the way our children grow up to be our friends (and I suspect why daughters are often closer to their mums and sons to their dads – the common interests the sexes share often create just the bond I’m talking about).

Yes, Ken, I think when talking about parenting we often forget ourselves… We too want to be heard and listened to, and I think it’s really not healthy to focus so much on our kids. Of course, they have needs, but so do we. We all deserve attention and time to share what we feel, what worries us, what we experienced etc.. – The earlier our childen learn that everyone has a go to be listened to, the earlier really good conversations will happen in families. And they learn to take turns – also an important skill in conversations 😉

Ha, you’re funny, Russel! But all this applies also to adults, partners, friends, collegues… Sometimes we ask a question and don’t really get an answer. Or the answer is not as detailed as we wanted or expected. 😉