I love telling kids I miss them. Now, I don’t necessarily like that kids were missing from the event or meeting but I love to tell them that I missed them. I know how it makes me feel when someone misses me. They are saying, “You are valuable. You presence is important and we know when it is not among us.”
If you are not telling kids they are missed, shame on you. You’re missing an opportunity to affirm a kids existence. You can take this to the next level.
I do my best to text parents the next day to let them know I missed their kids. I also tell them in person and they know me well enough that I’m not making a big deal about attendance. I am telling them that I value their kids. I have an opportunity to tell parents that I value what their kids bring to the youth meeting/ministry
Presence – They make a difference in our group
Leadership – Their example/influence makes a difference.
Servanthood– They offer their gift of practicality and helps.
Voice – They add value to our worship and ministry time
Compassion – They have open hearts and welcoming arms
Communicating with parents about the value of their children, to you, the ministry, and the world, is just as powerful as telling the kids themselves.
It’s a lonely world. Kids need to hear it. Parents need to hear it. You need to hear it. “Hey! I missed you.”
For more on the loneliness epidemic, listen to my interview with Tim Eldred: Alone Sucks