The best time to give advice

"The worst waste of breath, next to playing the saxophone, is advising a son." - Kim Hubbard

The following excerpt is from a small book by Jonathon and Wendy Lazear called Meditations for Parents Who Do Too Much (New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Inc., 2003):

The president has advisors. Children don't need them. Children have parents who "pretend" to be advisors, and children "pretend" to listen. The truth is, the only advice children are willing to listen to is the advice they give themselves.

If you want to give advice to your kids, save your breath. Talk to your kids instead. Talk to them about baseball and horses and politics and weather and the price of fame. Talk to them about animals and presidents and music and the time you had the time of your life. Give them encouragement ... and warmth and wit. Anything but advice.

Those who give advice may have to open themselves up to receive it...

The best time to give advice?

When your teen asks for it!