Being there for your kids - Kids Say the Darnedest Thinngs

Episode Date: September 5, 2026

The most wonderful, curious, and confusing thing about parenting is what kids come up with. Each exchange is a challenge. Do you impart wisdom? scold? challenge? Or do you just go with it? My daughter, Rachel, asked me a question when she was 7 years old. "Who peed in your cornflakes?" Whoa!! What did you say? I was about to go off about her being disrespectful to her elders when I stopped myself and took a cleansing breath. Putting it all in perspective, I realized that she was right, as I was being unfair to her. Patients also say the darnedest things and it's our job as guides on their healing journeys to find teachable moments and shepherd them through the process. If I've piqued your curiosity, check out my new book, The Healing Journey: Overcoming Adversity on the Path to the Good Life. Buy your copy on amazonbooks.com. Follow this link: https://a.co/d/0dxH5xOL. Blessings, Dr. Jon

Hi, I'm Dr. John Robinson, and this is Teachable Moments. Let me ask you a question. Who peed in your corn flakes? I can't think of a more profound and epic question posed to me by my then seven-year-old daughter many years ago. Yes, there is a story behind it. We were doing Saturday chores around the house. I had asked Rachel to pick up her stuffed animals in her bedroom, put some on her bed, and the rest in her toy box. I got busy with other things and came back to her room sometime later. She was a little. sitting on her bed having tea with her dolls as I watched from the bedroom door. Rachel, I stared at her. What are you doing? I'm having tea with my friends, Daddy. She lifted a sip of tea to the mouth of her teddy, totally in her own world. Want to join us? No, I don't want to join you. I want you to stop this nonsense and do what I told you to do. I grumped as I walked to her bed. Daddy, you need some tea. She pretended poured me a cup and lifted it to me. Then she added, Who peed in your corn flakes? At first I was so taken aback and flustered that I had nothing to say back.

Then I took a deep breath, realized what was going on, chuckled, and then bent over to hug my baby girl. Wow, Rach, you sure are some pistol. Well, what was going on? Rachel is a bright young lady who can process things beyond her age. I was a busy parent focused on cleaning the house and expecting Rachel to be with the program. When I was abruptly put in my place by my seven-year-old, I suddenly realized that she was right. Cleaning of the house did need to be done,

but Rachel was just being a little girl. My choice was to be the monster parent and taskmaster or engaged in a teachable moment with my daughter. I chose the latter. After sitting with her over tea, chatting with her stuffed animals, and asking about her friends, school, and play, I actively listened to reflect her feelings back to her.

We settled down to having fun together. You know, darling, there's a time for everything. I'm glad we took time to play together, having tea time. Will you join me in having pickup time now? She puzzled at my question and then nodded. How about we set your room straight together? Teachable moments occurs spontaneously after feelings are addressed and there is relative calm. That's when others are open to hearing what we have to say. In my new book, The Healing Journey, overcoming adversity on the path to the good life, I share with readers dialogue with patients who are stuck. Teachable moments occur when we learn to soar.

Buy your copy on Amazonbooks.com. If my comments start questions of your own, contact me through my website at www.org or email me at John Robinson.00 at bell south.net. I'm Dr. Jonathan C. Robinson, licensed clinical psychologist, and author of Teachable Moments Building Blocks of Christian Parenting, and my new book, The Healing Journey, Overcoming Adversity on the Path to the Good Life. Blessings, Dr. John. Teachable Moments, Building Blocks of Christian Parenting is available online at AmazonBooks.com and in local and national bookstores.

More on Dr. Robinson at TMC-P-I-N-C.com.