🧒 Raising children (tarbiyah) · #155
How do I answer my teenager's angry questions about her father without running him down?
Answer honestly but without poison; your child has the right to be angry, but she should not lose her love for her father because of your words. Acknowledge her feelings first, for example: ‘Mum understands that feeling really hurts.’ Explain the facts she needs calmly, without backbiting or adding stories that make him look bad. Avoid making your child the outlet for your own anger, because your wounds are not her burden. If you do not know the answer, simply say that it is a matter for her and her father to discuss. Pray for her father in front of her now and then, because that teaches a child to forgive. If her anger drags on and becomes disruptive, get help from a counsellor. Guidance on raising children is at educating the family.