Parenting Tip of the Day: Ask your kids

November 18, 1:02 PMParenting ExaminerTerreece Clarke

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Want to know how to deal with your kids? Ask them.

Parenting isn't easy and there's a loud chorus of expert information and sage advice competing for your attention. Parents seek information from a variety of resources, but there's one prime source of information we tend to neglect - our kids. When's the last time you asked your child their opinion on something besides what they want for dinner?

We all want to feel validated in our relationships and your children are no different. They want to feel like what they say matters and is respected. While making all of the choices may seem like a good idea, after all you know best and you can keep them safe, it's important to remember what happens in a dictatorship - uprisings.

A dictator is always worried about and looking for rumblings of a revolt, but in an open society where the leaders are in touch with the people, they know and solicit the opinions of the masses and while the people may not always agree with their leaders they at least know that their views were taken into consideration.

The other thing that happens after a dictator is overthrown (move out of parents house) is chaos ensues. Freedom is exhilarating and can evolve into unfortunate situations because someone who has never had to make a decision on their own are suddenly faced with a whole host of important ones - paying bills or partying all night, living with roommates or lovers, staying in school or heading to Vegas to make money in the slots.

You don't have to vote on everything, but if keeping an open line of communication in your parent/child relationship is important then ask them what they think about their friend's nose piercing or your neighbor's eating habits or, yes, what they want for dinner.