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Agreeing to Disagree
How disagreements can be good for your relationship!
During the Thanksgiving break – and beyond – some new discussions may come up between you and your student. It’s all part of the fact that she’s learning new, exciting things, while also testing her own thought processes and perspectives.
As a result, you and your student may not always see eye-to-eye on certain topics. Politics, diversity, religion… there are any number of hot-button issues that can start a verbal tussle. And with the emotion of Election Day coming around this month, it’s a good reminder that these disagreements can actually be good for your parent/student relationship.
Keeping an Open Mind
The key is agreeing to disagree in a respectful, open-minded manner. You can both do that by:
- Engaging. Let your student know that, just because you have had differences in opinion before, you’re still very interested in hearing what he has to say about things. Don’t avoid the tough topics.
- Listening. Allow your student to say her piece, without interrupting to inject your opinion. Sometimes just knowing that you’re being listened to makes all the difference in the world.
- Keeping an Open Mind. We can all change our minds once we hear the facts – or those facts can clarify a pre-existing opinion. It’s all part of being a growing, engaged human being.
- Not Taking Differences of Opinion Personally. If your student takes a different stance than you do, it’s not because he hates you or disrespects you. It’s likely because he has had experiences that have led her to form a different opinion. It’s really not about you.
- Sharing Your Pride. The fact that your student is an independent, critical thinker, no matter her opinion, can be a source of great pride. Don’t forget to praise your student for her abilities and curiosity.
Having an intentional discussion about agreeing to disagree is an important step in developing an adult relationship with your student. Let the conversations begin!
Politics, diversity, religion… there are any number of hot-button issues that can start a verbal tussle.
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