In the dance of growing years, we stand,
Tween hearts reaching for our hand.
Not children, not yet fully grown,
They seek to carve a space, their own.
Yet as they pull and test and sway,
Our bond must stretch, not snap away.
For trust, dear parent, must be shared,
Both given freely, and declared.
Not trust alone from child to guide,
But trust returned, placed deep inside.
When we believe in who they are,
We light their path like northern stars.
Trust Script 1: I Trust You, My Growing One
“I know you’re learning to make choices. I trust you to think it through. And I’m here if you need help.”
These words release yet hold secure,
A signal that our love is sure.
For when we trust their budding voice,
They learn to own each thoughtful choice.
Trust Script 2: You Can Trust Me, Always
“Whatever you share, I’ll listen first. You don’t have to fear my reaction.”
A parent’s calm, a steady shore,
Invites confessions, even more.
The door stays open, wide and clear,
For hearts to whisper what they fear.
Trust Script 3: The Dance of Autonomy
“You’re growing your independence. I’ll guide you, but I won’t hover.”
Their wings must stretch; the nest feels tight,
Yet we remain their steady light.
Two-way trust allows their flight,
While keeping love within their sight.
Trust Script 4: Honest Mistakes Are Welcome Here
“Everyone messes up. I have too. What matters most is how we grow after.”
Perfection blinds, but grace can teach,
That falling down brings wisdom’s reach.
Our honesty, when gently shown,
Grows trust that blossoms, fully grown.
Trust Script 5: Boundaries Built on Respect
“These rules exist because I care. But I’m always open to hear your view.”
Rules wrapped in empathy, not fear,
Invite them closer, year by year.
Two-way trust respects their voice,
And honors growth through mutual choice.
Trust Script 6: I Trust Your Intent
“I know your heart. Even when things go wrong, I believe you’re trying your best.”
The gift of faith, so gently placed,
Affirms their worth, their inner grace.
Mistakes don’t define who they are,
Our trust becomes their guiding star.
These tween years bring a thousand tests,
As friendships shift and pressure rests.
When we trust them, and they trust us,
The bond grows strong, resilient, thus:
- They speak more freely, fears released.
- We guide with wisdom, anger ceased.
- They learn to weigh both right and wrong.
- Our hearts stay tethered, ever strong.
You won’t control each choice they make,
Nor every winding path they take.
But if you plant this sacred seed—
Two-way trust—you’ll meet their need.
Not blind permission, nor harsh demand,
But open hearts, a steady hand.
For trust, dear parent, isn’t one-way,
It’s earned, returned, and grown each day.
Because in the fragile, wondrous tweening,
Two-way trust is the bridge—and you are its meaning.
This post is a part of ‘Verse Wave Blog Hop’ hosted by Manali Desai and Sukaina Majeed under #EveryConversationMatters
Your dedication as a mother is visible through all your creative writings. I really admire this.
“two‑way trust”—it’s not just about kids trusting their parents, but parents trusting them too. Active listening and giving tweens real chances to take the lead are game‑changers. I especially resonated with the idea of validating their feelings and treating them with respect, not just enforcing rules. Asking open‑ended questions (“What do you think?” instead of “Did you clean your room?”) feels like a small shift with a big payoff . the poem gives us a solid reminder – building trust with tweens isn’t a one-off—it’s an intentional, ongoing dance of listening, respecting, and being consistent.
I truly appreciate how you bring about the true essence of “Two-way trust allows their flight…”, empowering them while giving them the freedom to make choices and mistakes.
Thank you for sharing!
The structure is great: you define trust, explain how to build it, and offer clear tips for making it a daily practice.
Teenage, as you said, is both wonderful and fragile. One has to handle them with much caution. Your counsel in verse does help.
Two-way trust! What a brilliant and thoughtful approach! Your poetry beautifully captures the heart of parenting during those pivotal tween years. Your parenting insights offer wisdom and inspiration for so many.
What a beautiful way to share your knowledge and experience together. Blending them into this nice poem, you have added more depth and charm to the theme of parenthood. Loved reading this subtle yet profound poem. Kudos!
Your blog is a treasure trove of knowledge! I’m constantly amazed by the depth of your insights and the clarity of your writing. Keep up the phenomenal work!
What a lovely way you have recited the poems and also shown tween life and how we can build a good relationship instead of complaining about their age. Many people ‘they don’t listen only now that they are entering their teens’. I mean it all depends on how you bring them up.
Trust is always cherished, and two-way trust even more so. You have approached the bonds of parenting so gently and openly. Parents need to be the wind beneath the wings of their children. It is a relationship that blossoms, if nurtured. Beautiful post, thank you!
I love the amount of all-rounding emotions and trust scripts you have written. There’s acknowledgement, understanding and comprehension. A powerful reminder of building relations with sensitivity and more caring approach!
I loved this so much. It’s such a balancing act between letting a tween grow up but being there for them but also watching them make mistakes.
I love love love your post Jeannine… soooo meaningful and soooo true. As a mother of a teenager and a tween it is a huge lesson for me. I sometimes go the ‘harsh’ way very easily despite knowing that if we lose their trust and our bond now, we lose it forever.
I shall book mark this post and I know I will be getting back to it several times.
❤️❤️❤️
Such a meaningful read! I love how you highlighted that trust isn’t just given. It’s built from both sides, especially with tweens. A gentle reminder that listening matters just as much as guiding.
I really enjoyed how the advice was woven in with the quartet verses. Two-way trust is such a rich topic to choose and write about, and you did a great job with it!
Dealing with teen years was never easy and has become tougher over time. You are right, a two-way trust is the road to follow. As someone who made mistakes with my elder one, I am trying to be gentler this time and reading up on the topic is always helpful.
Being a mom to both a tween and a teen, I could absolutely relate to every word written by you. The poem is so beautiful, and the lessons in the post are even better. Two-way trust is such an important message that would help us connect to our children in a gentle and more loving way.
Two way trust is a great approach for any relationship and I agree it helps in having an open conversation with tweens.