The sky was painted pink and orange as Mason and Grandpa Joe walked the same winding trail as before. This time, Mason wasn’t lagging behind — he was kicking pebbles, staring at the ground, lost in thought.
Grandpa Joe: “You’re awful quiet today, partner. Usually, I can’t get you to stop talking about baseball cards or that fancy computer game.”
Mason: “It’s not that, Grandpa… it’s this girl. She’s in my class. She keeps trying to talk to me.”
Grandpa Joe: “Ahh… the plot thickens. What’s her name?”
Mason: “Lila.”
Grandpa Joe: “Pretty name. So what’s the problem?”
Mason: “I don’t know what to say. Every time she looks at me, I forget English.”
Grandpa Joe laughed so hard he had to stop walking for a second.
Grandpa Joe: “Son, that right there is the oldest problem in the book. Every man who’s ever lived has faced that exact bug in the system.”
Mason looked up, puzzled. “Bug?”
Grandpa Joe: “Yep. When the heart’s trying to talk, the brain crashes.”
They kept walking. The old man’s cane clicked in rhythm with the boy’s sneakers.
Grandpa Joe: “You know, when I was your age, we didn’t have texting or emojis to hide behind. If you liked someone, you had to walk up, look ‘em in the eye, and say something honest — even if it came out sideways.”
Mason: “Like what?”
Grandpa Joe: “Well, once I told your grandma she had ‘the nicest handwriting I ever saw on a math test.’ She thought I was nuts, but she smiled. That smile got me through algebra and forty years of marriage.”
Mason grinned. “So just say something?”
Grandpa Joe: “Say something true. You don’t need to impress her. Just make her laugh, ask about her day, notice something nobody else does. Girls can smell fake a mile away — but they remember someone who listens.”
They walked a few more steps in silence before Mason spoke again.
Mason: “What if she doesn’t like me back?”
Grandpa Joe smiled gently. “Then you walk it off, like we’re doing now. You’ll live. But if she does like you — well, you’ll have someone to walk with next time.”
Mason kicked another pebble, this time smiling.
Mason: “You know, Grandpa, you should write a book.”
Grandpa Joe: “I did, kiddo. You’re walking in it.”
PARENTS: You Learn to be a better parent by Teaching.
Parents, here’s a question worth chewing on like old chewing gum:
Are you teaching your children how to talk — not just to you, but with you?
It sounds simple, but conversation is one of the lost arts of civilization. In a world where most communication happens with thumbs instead of tongues, where “LOL” replaces laughter and silence fills dinner tables louder than words, it’s easy for kids to grow up fluent in emojis but illiterate in empathy.
A child who learns to speak his mind — and listen while others do — learns how to build bridges. The early habits of talking, listening, asking, and caring are the same skills he’ll need with teachers, friends, lovers, bosses, and one day, their own children. These aren’t just manners; they’re the foundation of understanding, leadership, and love.
So start with small talk. Ask questions that go somewhere. Turn the TV down and curiosity up. You’re not just shaping a child — you’re tuning the voice he’ll carry for the rest of their life.
Here are some conversation starters perfect for parents or grandparents trying to get kids to open up and think beyond “fine” and “I dunno.”
🧠 Curiosity & Imagination
- “If you could invent something that would make life easier, what would it be?”
- “What do you think animals say to each other when we’re not around?”
- “If you woke up tomorrow with one superpower, how would you use it — and what would you not use it for?”
- “What would your dream day look like from morning to night?”
- “If your favorite video game became real life, what would be the hardest part of living in it?”
❤️ Feelings & Values
- “What’s something that made you proud of yourself this week?”
- “When was the last time you helped someone, even a little bit?”
- “What’s something people don’t always understand about you?”
- “How do you know when someone is a real friend?”
- “What makes you feel calm when you’re stressed or angry?”
🧭 Character & Growth
- “What’s a mistake you learned something from?”
- “What do you think makes someone a good leader?”
- “If you could give advice to your future self, what would you say?”
- “What’s something you used to think was scary but doesn’t scare you anymore?”
- “What do you think courage looks like in real life?”
😂 Fun & Playful
- “If our family had a secret handshake, what would it look like?”
- “If you could swap lives with a movie character for one day, who would it be?”
- “What’s the weirdest food combination you actually like?”
- “If we had a time machine, which year would you want to visit — the past or the future?”
- “Who would win a pillow fight: you, me, or Grandma?”
🌱 Teaching Moments Disguised as Talk
- “If you could teach a class on anything, what would your subject be?”
- “What’s something you wish adults understood better about kids?”
- “When you get older, what kind of person do you hope to be known as?”
- “If you had to explain kindness to a robot, how would you describe it?”
- “What’s something you want to learn this year — and how could I help?”
IF you have a friend with per-teenagers share this post with them.
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