As parents, we can run into “blocks,” both internally and externally in our repair efforts with our children. Repair work requires vulnerability and courage on the parent’s part. Our wounded inner children can become easily activated and tender when asked to show up in new and different ways.

As humans who prefer to keep the peace, most of us will avoid having hard conversations like the plague. It tends to follow that by the time we finally have those talks, tensions are so high that it’s easy to become reactive.

Write from the heart. This is not an intellectual exercise, but rather a free-writing exercise. Trust whatever comes up and let it flow out of you without stopping to edit or re-word.

Here are 10 ways we can show up more available and open to learn about their world – both their inner and outer experience – in such a way as to invite more connection and conversation.