As much as modern parents prioritize open and honest communication with their childrenThere are still discussions that will always seem difficult to have.
But according to Dr. Meghan MartinA pediatric ER physician and mother of four with a large social media following, making those awkward conversations a little smoother is all about location, location, location.
“Those awkward, but really important conversations you have to have with your kids. The birds and the bees, protection, drugs, all of that: have those conversations in the car,” she says in a clip posted to her TikTok.
Martin said the “brilliant” idea, given to her by her best friend @teawiththeteach, was the “best parenting advice” she’s ever received.
Here’s why.
“You have your hands on the wheel, you’re looking straight ahead, you don’t have to make eye contact with anyone who’s talking about the birds, the bees, body parts, drugs or whatever other topic of conversation is out there. You also have a captive audience that’s literally strapped to your seat,” she explained.
Not having to maintain intense eye contact makes the conversation less awkward and less vulnerable for everyone involved. And when there’s less awkwardness, there’s more room for things to actually be heard.
Plus, unlike a conversation at home, which already has serious overtones, cars are instantly more casual, making things less “important,” Martin noted. Imagine, wouldn’t it be nice to instantly put on a catchy playlist after one of these conversations…rather than sitting in awkward silence?
Martin herself has tried this approach with her two eldest children and says the car has now become a “safe place” to discuss certain topics. They even ask their own questions to discuss them.
“I’m starting to have these kinds of conversations with my younger kids,” she concluded, “and I want to stress how important it is to talk about these issues early on, so that when older teens or tweens hear about it, it’s not the first time.”
Martin isn’t the only one who’s tried talking in the car. Many people shared in the comments how they’ve successfully broached difficult topics while driving.
“Yes, my oldest is 26 and I still have great conversations with him in the car. At that age, I wait until we’re on the highway so he can’t jump,” one person wrote.
“I like the car for difficult conversations, even with my spouse,” added another.
A few remember having their own difficult conversations about cars as children.
“My mom ALWAYS did this,” one viewer said, adding, “I still get anxious in the car with her, wondering what she’s going to bring up and I have my own family now. … I’m glad she did and took the time to have these conversations.”
Another parent even explained how they added another element to help facilitate discussions, writing, “I did this. I added an ice cream cone to connect something pleasant that the brain could connect to. My boys would ask for ice cream to be delivered when they had something serious to discuss.”
Other resources I’ve been thinking about other factors that make conversations easier in a car, like proximity, limited distractions, and the change of scenery that helps create the feeling that we’re not stuck with a problem. An article published in Symptoms of life It is also assumed that having a common destination and facing the same direction also plays an important role.
Having big discussions with kids can be difficult, but it’s part and parcel of being a parent. I hope this little tidbit can make things easier for everyone involved.
Don’t forget to have your upbeat playlist handy!
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