The Relationship Road Trip Episode 11

Last week we discussed conflict resolution in the workplace. Today we look at conflict resolution while parenting. The episode’s title, Student Drivers, is a double or maybe even triple entendre. Conflict with your kids is an opportunity for the parent to practice emotion regulation skills, demonstrate empathetic problem-solving, and get kids to do what is needed for the family and community. Conflict with your kids gives the child an opportunity to be a Student Driver of their lives. If you, dear parent, are the Driver of your life and relationships, then your child is learning how to drive their life every day by watching and emulating you. This process also allows you to be a student driver by improving your skills each time an issue arises. The funny part is this exact process is happening at work whether you are the boss (parent) or individual contributor (kid) and emulating what your boss does is how individual contributors learn to be managers and leaders. Weird, isn’t it?