It’s true: we talk too much. And we know that just one more brilliant lecture from us will not solve our boys’ every problem—but we can’t seem to help ourselves.
This week on HeightsCast, lower school head Colin Gleason takes an intentional look at how we as parents and educators engage our boys, and how we might do better. The conversation reminds us that parenting is relational, not a delivery system, and that ultimately we want to keep the lines of communication open.
Chapters:
2:30 Talk less, engage more
8:31 Over-supervision leads to acting, not being
15:11 Strategies for listening
17:23 Recon: trying to draw something out
21:12 Showing unanxious interest
25:38 Response: when they come to you
28:13 Keep them coming to you
31:01 Let the emotions breathe
37:32 Disrespect and complaints
43:38 The impact of listening
Featured opportunities:
Parents’ Conference: Freedom and Addiction at The Heights School (April 12, 2025) link coming soon
Teaching Men’s Conference at The Heights School (October 2025) link coming soon
Also on the Forum:
On Emotional Presence and Imperfect Parenting featuring Alvaro de Vicente
Seeing Our Boys with Loving Eyes: Not Projects but Persons featuring Tom Royals
Building a Relationship of Trust with Your Son featuring Alvaro de Vicente