My son and I have had a challenging relationship these last few months.

We’re butting heads and just not really getting along, which totally bums me out.

He’s now 10, and I know he is trying to figure out his way, gain his power, and be his own man.

I never had a father around. I never even had much of a male role model until I was 18. So, this is all new for me.

I was sitting with a friend and longtime client the other day at lunch, and decided to share what was going on with me and my boy.

“Did this ever happen to you with your son?” I asked.

He replied, “It did, and what I would do is try to meet him in the middle.”

He continued, “I’m a big sports guy, but my son was never really into it. Instead, he was a gamer. So, as much as I hated it, I would sit there and play video games with him or just watch him play. It completely changed the relationship for us. Now, at age 18, he will ask me if I want to go throw the football with him, which I know he does not want to do.”

I really started thinking about this. I HATE video games. I never played them growing up and just don’t understand them. Like most kids these days, my son (who is an incredibly gifted athlete) loves to just sit and play games.

But he is also very competitive.

So, when we got home from a recent trip, we did just that: sat and played Fortnite together.

He destroyed me!

But afterward, he was more interested in talking with me and just hanging out.

Lesson learned.

I never realized how often I refuse to meet others in the middle.

That’s not to say that I won’t negotiate or hear someone out, but meeting someone halfway on things that I am passionate about has always been a challenge.

Not anymore and not today.

It’s like what they say: You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

So true.

My kids are always teaching me something. And for that client and friend who shared his experience, thanks for the advice!

-J.D.