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Quote of the Week
"Communication works for those who work at it." -- John Powell
Irresponsible Children: Why Nagging and Lecturing Don't Work
"If you're like most parents, you probably spend enormous amounts of time and energy teaching about the importance of being responsible. You encourage it, you explain why it's important, and you remind your child again and again why he should do the things he's supposed to do. You complain, nag and lecture, but to no avail. It probably seems like you're talking to a brick wall, because your kid still won't clean his room, empty the dishwasher, complete his homework or apologize to his little brother unless you threaten and punish.
Why is this such a hard lesson to teach - and why does learning to be responsible seem so hard for kids? It's not because your child is hard-headed or a spoiled brat, or because you haven't been trying to teach him about it. Here's the hard pill to swallow: if your child is continually irresponsible, it could mean that you aren't taking responsibility for your own behavior." [read more]
Reading Corner
 Title: Taking the War Out of Our Words
By: Sharon Strand Ellison Stage: Any
"Whether we are dealing with a rude clerk, our child saying, "That's not fair!," our spouse ignoring us, or an uncooperative co-worker, in our struggle to respond effectively, we often become defensive - sometimes without even realizing it. Despite good intentions, we can become manipulative and controlling, even with those we love most. In this groundbreaking book, Sharon Ellison takes us to the root of our communication problems. She shows us how defensiveness functions in our lives and can lead to hurtful power struggles, outlining the six basic patterns we use: Self-Betrayal, Sabotage, Avoidance, Vindictiveness, Excuses, Blame." -- Google Books Review
Recommended by Cubs Editors
Be The Change
Listen to one or more of these YouTube videos by Sharon Ellison as she discusses non-defensive communication. See if you can integrate one of her suggestions into your own communication.
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