We’ve lost the art of talking to one another face to face.
I notice this most when I ask the boys to look me in the eyes when I am talking to them. It makes them squirmy and that makes me sad, especially since I realize how little most of us REALLY look at each other when we are talking any more!
I am greatly to blame for this as well. The boys will walk into a room and start talking and I won’t even look up from what I’m doing to hear what they have to say. How rude, right?!
In the name of multi-tasking, we seldom sit down to converse without any distractions. Our ability to really HEAR each other is greatly diminished in these instances and communication failures result.
I want my children to know they have my full attention. I want my husband to have no doubt I am hearing his words and they are important to me. And I want each of them to look at me when I am talking to them as well.
The words spoken within our family should hold great value to one another. Eye contact is an effective way to convey the importance of the other person’s words to you. Give your family the gift of eye contact!
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Family Tie #1: Look your husband and children in the eyes when they speak to you today! If they are in another room trying to get your attention, go to them if you are able. Make eye contact before you ask your children to do something. And look each of them in the eyes and say, “I love you!”
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I'm Erin, a wife, boy mom x 3, writer, and runner in Nebraska! I'm excited to share all my favorites relating to faith, family, fashion, and fitness in this space! Enjoy! 
We really struggle with this too, especially with our little boy (nearly 5).. Thanks for the reminder that the habit starts with me!
After writing this, I am noticing even more how little we look at each other! Why is it so hard?! I’m hoping we can be great role models in this area!
What a great reminder. Very simple and doable:)
Thanks Allie! Simple was exactly what I was going for! Praying it improves communication in our homes!
Love this! This has been on my radar but always a good reminder! Thank you!
I’m excited to read your 31 Days, I found you over at Eclectic Whatnot. Come by and check out Ruthanne’s guest post over at sweatismysanity.com a series I do called Motivate Me Monday featuring stories of weight loss and journey’s toward health. I look forward to reading more here. I will definitely work on eye contact with my family today…probably something I haven’t been doing enough of. 🙂 xo, Jessica
SweatIsMySanity.com
I just have to be honest and say that this is something I am completely guilty of doing and did not even realize it until I read your post! I can’t wait to see what changing this behavior does for my family!!! Today I will be looking into my children’s eyes when I speak to them!
I notice this in my 5yr old. Mostly because I’m so guilty of shouting orders here and there and never really looking at them when I speak to them! =(
I’m going to work on this. I know I am really guilty of half-listening on a regular basis.
Yep, we have been working really hard on this at our house over the summer with our 5 y/o boy and 3 y/o girl. And it’s paying off! I notice our son looking into the coaches eyes during flag football when they are talking to him directly! It is a huge thing for him that he never quite got during T-ball season! It is so hard because it does make them uncomfortable. It even makes me a little squirmy when the person I’m talking with doesn’t answer right away and just “stares” into my eyes. I like to ask, “What color are his/her eyes?” after they talk to someone on their own. It forces them to look so they can answer my question. I’m hoping it builds more confidence with this and they’ll do more than a quick peek at their eye color.
Great thoughts! I notice this too when I am trying to give direction to Molly and I say, find my eyes, she does for about 5 seconds then drifts off to lala land! Great ideas!