It’s true: we talk too much. And we know that just one more brilliant lecture from us will not solve our boys’ every problem—but we can’t seem to help ourselves.

This week on HeightsCast, lower school head Colin Gleason takes an intentional look at how we as parents and educators engage our boys, and how we might do better. The conversation reminds us that parenting is relational, not a delivery system, and that ultimately we want to keep the lines of communication open.

Chapters:

2:30 Talk less, engage more

8:31 Over-supervision leads to acting, not being

15:11 Strategies for listening

17:23 Recon: trying to draw something out

21:12 Showing unanxious interest

25:38 Response: when they come to you

28:13 Keep them coming to you

31:01 Let the emotions breathe

37:32 Disrespect and complaints

43:38 The impact of listening

Featured opportunities:

Parents’ Conference: Freedom and Addiction at The Heights School (April 12, 2025) link coming soon

Teaching Men’s Conference at The Heights School (October 2025) link coming soon

Also on the Forum:

On Emotional Presence and Imperfect Parenting featuring Alvaro de Vicente

Seeing Our Boys with Loving Eyes: Not Projects but Persons featuring Tom Royals

Building a Relationship of Trust with Your Son featuring Alvaro de Vicente