CCECYOUTH.COM

By Jackson Stace

10 - Try and do what they say. Even if this is sometimes hard, at least let them know you’re making an effort.

9 - Put yourselves in their shoes… and see how long it takes for them to find them.

8 - Surprise them with good stuff. Tidying your room after your mum has asked you seven times isn’t treating her well. Keeping it tidy or tidying it before she asks is.

7 - Every now and then pretend that your parent’s attempts at engaging with your generation actually work. “Yeah dad, Myplace is a cool zone to unload pictures from my songpod onto the world wide web”

6 -  When you go to leave the house- let them know where you are going, when you are about to get into a “strangers”(ie. Your friend from school who just got his p’s) car- find out exactly where you are going, which route you are taking, how many roundabouts you will be going through and how well the “stranger” can handle roundabouts, his license number, his address, his parents number- are they reputable?, and of course- what time you will be home.

5 -  Tickle their feet. My mum likes it anyway!

4 - Try and find out what they like to do and do it with them. After all, they’ve sat and watched mind numbing children’s movies like Flubber with you since you were five.

3 - It sounds so obvious but try this one on for size…… tell them you love them!

2 - I’ve seen photo collages work well a few times. Yep, there’s nothing like a piece of cardboard soaked with craft glue with pictures of you from the age of two to draw tears from an unsuspecting parent.

1 - Whether they’re Christian or not, share Jesus with them and allow them to see God working in your life.