Hey Parents, welcome the Six Summers.

Our goal is to help you know what to do with your kids and how to implement intentional content and tools that help you become more influential and might bring more life into your relationships with your family. 

We know how busy you are and how much we have heard, “can you just tell me what to do and when to do it?” 

That is what Six Summers is here for, so let’s get started with this first weekly Game Plan. 

Being Intentional over Accidental

Intentional Parenting:

Intentional parenting, from a dad's perspective, refers to being proactive, deliberate, and purposeful in your actions and decisions as a father.

It means that you make the effort to understand your child's world and respond to their needs appropriately.

This involves:

• setting clear goals for your relationship with your child

• choosing to engage in meaningful interactions

• deliberately using these interactions as opportunities to mentor, guide, and support them.

Intentional parenting is also about being present, aware, and focusedduring time spent with your child, making sure that they feel heard, understood, and valued.

Accidental Parenting:

On the other hand, accidental parenting is a reactive and unplanned approach to parenting.

It's characterized by addressing issues as they arise rather than anticipating them and preparing accordingly.

Accidental parenting might involve:

• inconsistent discipline, sporadic engagement,

• often relying on instinct rather than considered actions

From a Parent's perspective, it can be easy to fall into accidental parenting due to the demands of work, personal responsibilities, or lack of understanding about the importance of intentional parenting.

It is not necessarily negative but might lead to missed opportunities for deeper connections and essential life lessons.

The goal for this week is for you to become even more intentional as a Parent. 

Raising teenagers is an adventure filled with highs and lows.

It's a transitional phase where kids grapple with hormones, mood swings, identity crises, and the general confusion of growing up. Navigating this tumultuous terrain as a parent requires skill, patience, and most importantly, intention.

An accidental approach may result in missed opportunities to connect with your child, while being intentional can foster a stronger bond and mutual understanding.

So, how can you shift from an accidental to an intentional approach?

Remember, being a parent to a teenager is not about perfection but connection

Here's a straightforward, actionable exercise to get you started:

Exercise: The Intentional Interaction Challenge

The aim of this exercise is to deepen your understanding of your teen's world, enhance your relationship, and help them navigate their teenage years.

Step 1: Choose an Activity

Start by choosing an activity that you both enjoy. It could be anything from a game of basketball, a movie night, cooking together, or even a leisurely walk. The goal here isn't to pick the grandest or most exciting activity, but something that promotes interaction and conversation.

Step 2: Set an Intention

Before engaging in the activity, set a specific intention. This could be to learn something new about your teenager, to listen more than you speak, or to understand their perspective on a particular issue. Write it down, and keep it in mind throughout your interaction.

Step 3: Connect and Communicate

As you engage in the activity, keep your intention in mind. If your intention is to listen more, make a conscious effort to hear what your teen is saying, and try to understand their perspective without judgment or interruption. If your intention is to learn something new, ask open-ended questions that encourage them to express their thoughts and feelings.

Step 4: Reflect

After the activity, take time to reflect on the experience. Did you achieve your intention? What did you learn from the interaction? How did your teenager respond? If your intention was to understand their perspective on a particular issue, do you feel like you achieved that understanding?

Step 5: Repeat

Finally, repeat this exercise at least once a week, setting different intentions each time. Over time, you'll discover that this intentional approach builds trust, promotes open communication, and strengthens your relationship with your teenager.

Remember, being a parent to a teenager is not about perfection but connection. Shifting from an accidental to an intentional approach can make all the difference. So, embrace the power of intention, and watch your relationship with your teen grow stronger with every intentional interaction.

You good? That is how the Weekly Game Plan works. We tee up the idea, you implement what is relevant. The more consistent you become, the more influence you will have. 

Happy Parenting.