from the ashes of heartbreak

“I am a single mother. My oldest son, Jason, was about 16. Whenever he would break one of the rules or get in some kind of trouble, I would lecture him, often in a loud voice.”


“Mama, the

louder you talk to me, the less I

hear you.”


“His words stopped me dead in my tracks. I replayed his statement over and over in my mind in the days that followed, until I fully understood what he was saying.”

“Mama, the louder you talk to

me, the less I hear you.”

“Mama, the

louder you talk to me, the less I

hear you.”

“I immediately changed my way of speaking, not just with my son, but with anyone whom I felt was wrong in some way. Rather than yelling, I adjusted my tone.”

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“I found people respond much better to feedback when I offer it in a kinder, gentler way. It ends up having a much stronger impact.”


“…but our relationship flourished in the years preceding his death because of the truth he told me that day. We were closer than ever before.”

“I live what Jason taught me with my other son, Joshua, who is now 17. We resolve our differences peacefully. I speak softly and he hears me.”



“Please share my story with other moms so that they, too, can speak

softly enough for their children to really hear them.”

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?

“His words stopped me dead in my tracks. As I replayed his statement over and over in my mind in the days that followed, I fully understood what he was saying.”

…learn from our listening and let it change us.


“I immediately changed my way of speaking, not just to my son, but to anyone whom I felt was wrong in some way.”


“But our relationship flourished in the years preceding his death because of the truth he told me that day. I live what Jason taught me with my other son, Joshua. I speak softly and he hears me.”

…make something

out of something unspeakably painful.

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“Please share my story with other moms so that they, too, can speak softly enough for their children to really hear them.”


“Please share my story”

Email: merylrunion(at)speakstrong.com 28

from the ashes of heartbreak

Education