Now’s the time to change that. Be aware of how you’re feeling, open up, and enjoy authentic communication.
I know we all have a long list of lectures lined up that we believe our kids need to hear, but those lectures are probably the surest path to losing both their trust and any interest in future Board Meetings.
Keep the focused reflection light (especially at the beginning). By spending quality time together, you’ve already spoken volumes without speaking a word.
Resist the temptation to think of your time together as a schooling opportunity. If you treat your Board Meeting with a “to-do list” mentality, you’ll lose your kid the very first time. Board Meetings are about creating space; let that space grow. As trust is built, conversations will happen.
This is something you’ll only understand once you’re in a Board Meeting. At a certain point in your time together, once you’ve had fun, eaten a meal, and had some focused reflection, you’ll end up reaching a moment of emotional clarity where you want to say something meaningful.
Say it.
If you hold back when that opportunity comes, you’ll regret it. Vulnerability must be met with vulnerability— if your child trusts you enough to be vulnerable, you must reciprocate.