This is obvious with younger ones like mine. You will be around them. Building that relationship while they are young builds that trust. When they get older, there may already be an established trust if you are blessed with friends who have been in your lives for a while. As they get older, it’s really important to know their friends. Take a genuine interest in their lives, and they will want to be around you too. You can make your house a shelter for those who need a great parental influence. You can fill a void or compensate for certain needs that aren’t being filled elsewhere. With older kids, I’ve watched this modeled…kids flocking to their house because of an adult who cares about them. In my own life, I know my friends have come by to talk to my mom when I wasn’t even around because she generally just cares about people. These were friends who needed a mother figure who would love on them a bit. The better you know their friends, the better you will know your child as well. You’ll be able to raise them up knowing the other influences they might have in their lives.
