Repositioning instructional statements as informative, “I” statements is something I need to try with my kids. (Says the guy who tried to avoid “i” whenever possible in a 1k+ issue daily email art project.)

Instead we want to try stating our beliefs and values in a non-confrontational manner using “I” statements:

• “I believe that rules are important to help our home run smoothly.”
• “I believe that homework should be done in a timely fashion.”
• “I believe that educational TV shows help me expand my knowledge of the world.”

When we talk about ourselves and what we believe in, we make a big impression on our kids. They can hear our viewpoints about what behavior makes a good person, clearly and succinctly. These simple “I” statements seem benign, but kids can hear us without feeling that they have to defend themselves or be pushed into an opinion that they might not share.