Did You Know?

Families who practice respectful communication and listen with care see real benefits:

• Children and teens are more likely to feel safe sharing their feelings.

• Emotional bonds between family members grow stronger.

• Using kind, assertive language reduces conflict and stress in the home.

Strengthening Families Lesson #3: Communicating with LUV and Understanding

Strengthening Families Program (SFP) met on October 23rd, at First United Methodist Church in Winnfield for Lesson #3 — a session focused on the power of loving, respectful communication to strengthen family bonds.

Listening, Understanding, and Validating

This week’s lesson introduced LUV Listening — a simple, powerful way to truly hear each other. Families learned to:

• Listen carefully, without distractions, and show attention through eye contact, nods, and kind words.

• Understand by asking questions and summarizing what they heard to make sure they got it right.

• Validate by recognizing each other’s feelings, even if they don’t always agree.

Using LUV Listening helps family members feel heard and respected, making it easier to solve problems and avoid misunderstandings.

Speaking with Respect

Families also practiced “I-Messages”, a way to express feelings without blaming or shaming others. Examples include:

• “I feel worried when I don’t hear from you after school because I don’t know if you’re safe.”

• “I noticed the laundry on the floor. It makes me feel unappreciated. What can we do differently next time?”

Parents and children learned to be assertive rather than aggressive, stating their needs clearly and respectfully. Aggression, harsh words, or sarcasm can create tension, while assertive communication builds trust and cooperation.

Banish Communication Boulders

The session also highlighted Communication Boulders (C-Boulders) — rude or hurtful ways of speaking that damage relationships. Families discussed strategies to avoid behaviors such as sarcasm, put-downs, yelling, and name-calling. By replacing these with polite, constructive communication, families create warmer, safer homes where love can thrive.

Practicing Together

During the Family Practice Session, parents, teens, and children came together to role-play real-life scenarios, practice LUV Listening, give respectful I-Messages, and identify any C-Boulders they wanted to banish in their homes. These fun exercises help to teach families how to practice these skills so that they can put them to good use in their everyday lives.  

By the end of Lesson #3, families left with a powerful message: listening, understanding, validating, and speaking respectfully can transform how families interact. Regular practice, including weekly family meetings, apologies when needed, and saying “I love you” and “I’m sorry,” helps create lasting bonds and a home filled with love and peace.

Weekly SFP sessions continue through mid-December at First United Methodist Church in Winnfield.

The SFP is facilitated by Winn Community Health Center and funded through a grant from The Rapides Foundation, brings parents, teens, and children together each week to build skills that nurture emotional well-being and positive family relationships.

For more information, contact Shonna Moss at 318-628-0169.

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