Just trying to help my sister avoid some of the mistakes I have made

  • One thing you can do to help in this situation is teach her that it’s safe to talk to you about things that don’t seem to be 'right". Make it a habit to wonder out loud together if things are being presented truthfully. Look things up on the internet together. Keep it age appropriate, but be someone who explains things to her well. I taught my children early to question if the things they heard at school were true and they’d ask me. Your parents will probably always be in the position to do that, but you can make an effort to be there, too. Then when she’s older if she starts to question things your parents told her, she’ll know you’re a safe person to talk to.

    • I’d also encourage challenging your edicts and rules. I’m not suggesting your child should be able to avoid them, but if you encourage them to ask why they’re being forced to do something and if you occasionally relent if they explain why it’s unreasonable, you encourage them to critically asses things. It’s very tough to be a my way or the highway parent and expect critical thinking.