Comments on: Reclaiming the Lost Art of Listening http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/reclaiming-the-lost-art-of-listening/ Timeless Parenting Advice for Toddlers through Teenagers Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:54:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: troubled teen program for stefano http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/reclaiming-the-lost-art-of-listening/#comment-42909 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:39:51 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/reclaiming-the-lost-art-of-listening/#comment-42909 thanks for the post! I totally agree with every single word you've said. I want to comment that listening is mote than just hearing. When family members know you are sincerely interested in what they have to say, they may be more willing to open up and tell you what they think and how they feel. thanks for the post! I totally agree with every single word you’ve said. I want to comment that listening is mote than just hearing. When family members know you are sincerely interested in what they have to say, they may be more willing to open up and tell you what they think and how they feel.

]]> by: Linda Reinhold http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/reclaiming-the-lost-art-of-listening/#comment-25001 Wed, 26 Sep 2007 18:41:38 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/reclaiming-the-lost-art-of-listening/#comment-25001 Hi Ellen, Thank you for your good work and inspiration. I am in a prayer group which belongs to a world-wide association of prayer groups known as "Invitation to Life." Our group is involed in the"Listening Mission" and one of our group's functions (and others in the US) is to provide a prayer hotline every Friday night. One person listens to the caller while a group prays for them nearby, in a safe and totally private atomosphere. I ran across a great article on listening that I sent to a number of friends and I'd like to send it to you. I scanned it from a magazine and If you would like me to send it, please tell me how. Bless you, Linda Reinhold Hi Ellen, Thank you for your good work and inspiration. I am in a prayer group which belongs to a world-wide association of prayer groups known as “Invitation to Life.” Our group is involed in the”Listening Mission” and one of our group’s functions (and others in the US) is to provide a prayer hotline every Friday night. One person listens to the caller while a group prays for them nearby, in a safe and totally private atomosphere. I ran across a great article on listening that I sent to a number of friends and I’d like to send it to you. I scanned it from a magazine and If you would like me to send it, please tell me how. Bless you, Linda Reinhold

]]> by: Kyla Hamilton http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/reclaiming-the-lost-art-of-listening/#comment-24784 Sat, 22 Sep 2007 14:19:49 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/reclaiming-the-lost-art-of-listening/#comment-24784 Just yesterday I sat with my son to play some (not so fun) games to test our listening. I asked him to tell me a story. When he begun I started looking around, bending over and picking at the wall, talking to the dog and so on. I asked him if I was listening to him and he said...NO!. I told him that we need to listen not just with our ears but with our entire bodies. Does anyone have any FUN games to play with my 4 year old son so he understands the importance of listening? Thanks, Kyla Just yesterday I sat with my son to play some (not so fun) games to test our listening. I asked him to tell me a story. When he begun I started looking around, bending over and picking at the wall, talking to the dog and so on. I asked him if I was listening to him and he said…NO!. I told him that we need to listen not just with our ears but with our entire bodies. Does anyone have any FUN games to play with my 4 year old son so he understands the importance of listening?

Thanks,
Kyla

]]> by: EK http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/reclaiming-the-lost-art-of-listening/#comment-23120 Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:54:40 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/reclaiming-the-lost-art-of-listening/#comment-23120 Well, you hit the nail on its head. As a principal of a boys only day school, I have noticed that the more High Tec the family use is the less of a family is. If we were to record most of todays discussion, we'll notice thats its not really a discussion. Its two people talking and no one listening. sadly this is because thats what we hear & see on the media. We in our school work very hard on the art of listening. We model this in classroom daily. Children raise their hand and re-ask a question that was just answered. The process is to ask the student if he was listening. We have the previous student to re-ask his question and provide the Teachers answer. It worked wonders. Well, you hit the nail on its head. As a principal of a boys only day school, I have noticed that the more High Tec the family use is the less of a family is. If we were to record most of todays discussion, we’ll notice thats its not really a discussion. Its two people talking and no one listening. sadly this is because thats what we hear & see on the media. We in our school work very hard on the art of listening. We model this in classroom daily. Children raise their hand and re-ask a question that was just answered. The process is to ask the student if he was listening. We have the previous student to re-ask his question and provide the Teachers answer. It worked wonders.

]]> by: rahel http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/reclaiming-the-lost-art-of-listening/#comment-23079 Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:32:52 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/reclaiming-the-lost-art-of-listening/#comment-23079 I loved this article. I just wish there was an idea or suggestion of how to do this with a 4 year old tugging and an 18 month crying. I feel bad that sometimes I can't give my children the full attention they need at that moment. I loved this article. I just wish there was an idea or suggestion of how to do this with a 4 year old tugging and an 18 month crying. I feel bad that sometimes I can’t give my children the full attention they need at that moment.

]]> by: Margaret Farrell http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/reclaiming-the-lost-art-of-listening/#comment-23024 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 21:48:05 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/reclaiming-the-lost-art-of-listening/#comment-23024 I have daughter who has a neuro-muscular disorder, and had a grandfather who had a serious stroke, sooo I have a pretty good idea about differences in communication and how badly good communication is needed. Even among people who are "only" time "impaired". I have daughter who has a neuro-muscular disorder, and had a grandfather who had a serious stroke, sooo I have a pretty good idea about differences in communication and how badly good communication is needed. Even among people who are “only” time “impaired”.

]]> by: joyrunr http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/reclaiming-the-lost-art-of-listening/#comment-23022 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 19:50:27 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/reclaiming-the-lost-art-of-listening/#comment-23022 I need to get this in my head! This must be something that God wants me to work on. I realized this past weekend and here again now that I have to start becoming an active listener.... Listening with all 5 senses if I can. Fully focused and turned toward my husband or children. I think that my 'job' as a wife and stay at home mom that homeschools 3 of the oldest of my 5 children requires multitasking all of the time. But I have come to see once again that I have lost the art of listening and am sending the WRONG MESSAGE to the loved ones around me. I believe and want them to know that they are more important than stirring the batter or slapping the sandwiches together, etc! I can PAUSE turn to them and LISTEN with my whole person. Thank you for this wake-up call. I need to get this in my head! This must be something that God wants me to work on. I realized this past weekend and here again now that I have to start becoming an active listener…. Listening with all 5 senses if I can. Fully focused and turned toward my husband or children. I think that my ‘job’ as a wife and stay at home mom that homeschools 3 of the oldest of my 5 children requires multitasking all of the time. But I have come to see once again that I have lost the art of listening and am sending the WRONG MESSAGE to the loved ones around me. I believe and want them to know that they are more important than stirring the batter or slapping the sandwiches together, etc! I can PAUSE turn to them and LISTEN with my whole person. Thank you for this wake-up call.

]]> by: Ava of Avahosting.biz http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/reclaiming-the-lost-art-of-listening/#comment-23021 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 19:00:49 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/reclaiming-the-lost-art-of-listening/#comment-23021 Ellen, I wholeheartedly agree with you! Especially as a single work at home and outside job, it feel like I always have to multitask and there is still always too much to do. When I am with friends, I really try to not even answer my cell phone, except for when my daughter calls. When I'm with them I really want to be present. I already spend too much time with information overload... spending more time with my computer than my friends! When I'm with my daughter, I am looking right at her and asking her if there is anything she wants to talk about. I tell her I am always there for her when she needs or wants me. But she is 15, so that isn't often enough! One thing that really annoys me is when people say, "Hi, How are you?" But they don't wait for the answer! Or they roll their eyes if you say anything but "fine thanks, and you?"! Thanks for this reminder in your great article! -Ava http://www.avahosting.biz Ellen,

I wholeheartedly agree with you!
Especially as a single work at home and outside job, it feel like I always have to multitask and there is still always too much to do. When I am with friends, I really try to not even answer my cell phone, except for when my daughter calls. When I’m with them I really want to be present. I already spend too much time with information overload… spending more time with my computer than my friends! When I’m with my daughter, I am looking right at her and asking her if there is anything she wants to talk about. I tell her I am always there for her when she needs or wants me. But she is 15, so that isn’t often enough!
One thing that really annoys me is when people say, “Hi, How are you?” But they don’t wait for the answer! Or they roll their eyes if you say anything but “fine thanks, and you?”!
Thanks for this reminder in your great article!
-Ava
http://www.avahosting.biz

]]> by: Homeschooling Mom http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/reclaiming-the-lost-art-of-listening/#comment-23020 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 18:51:50 +0000 http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/reclaiming-the-lost-art-of-listening/#comment-23020 Great article! I think this one idea - of active listening - is perhaps the greatest thing we can do for our relationships. Listening brings understanding and thus compassion, transforming our actions into loving ones. I especially agree with what we do, is what others will do to us (the example of laryngitis perfectly demonstarting this fact). If we actively model these traits to our children, our children will model them back. Thanks for the reminder to really listen, not simply hear. Great article!

I think this one idea - of active listening - is perhaps the greatest thing we can do for our relationships. Listening brings understanding and thus compassion, transforming our actions into loving ones. I especially agree with what we do, is what others will do to us (the example of laryngitis perfectly demonstarting this fact). If we actively model these traits to our children, our children will model them back. Thanks for the reminder to really listen, not simply hear.

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