7 Words Every Parent Should Speak To Their Child

Show notes

About This Episode We're the Smiths, we do hard things. As we wrap up our series on words, we turn to the ones we speak over our children. We share seven words every parent should speak to their child: purpose, peace, belonging, imperfect, truth, reconciliation, and hope. We asked our kids which words they love, which they want to hear more, and which they never want to hear, and we talk about research on how back-and-forth conversations actually grow a child's brain. From reminding our children they have purpose as image-bearers, apart from anything they achieve, to humbly apologizing when we get it wrong, we share personal stories from gardening, studying outside, and our family's inside jokes, and how the words we choose shape our children's sense of self and their place in God's family.

About Aaron & Jennifer Smith Aaron and Jennifer Smith are the founders of Marriage After God and authors of Husband After God, Wife After God, and Marriage After God. Married since 2007 and raising six children in Bend, Oregon, they started Husband Revolution and Unveiled Wife to share what God was teaching them, not from a place of having it figured out, but as fellow travelers pointing couples back to Jesus.

In This Episode The seven words — purpose, peace, belonging, imperfect, truth, reconciliation, and hope What our kids said — the words they love, want more of, and never want to hear Conversational duets — MIT research on how back-and-forth talk grows a child's brain Purpose — children matter as image-bearers, apart from achievement Belonging — assuming our children believe instead of treating them as outsiders Imperfect — admitting our flaws so the gospel makes sense Reconciliation — parents humbly apologizing to model it Family culture — gardening, inside jokes, and "We're the Smiths, we do hard things"

Scripture Referenced Matthew 19:14 — let the little children come to me

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