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Parenting

How to be a good mom mentor

Here are tips for guiding friends and family through parenting battles.

By Randi Chapnik Myers
How to be a good mom mentor

How to be a good mom mentor

Mommy mentor

Having a “big sister” in the parenting battle can make all the difference. Here are tips for being a great mom mentor for your friends and family.

Read more: Mommy mentor: Why every mom needs one>

A version of this article was published in our May 2013 issue with the headline "Mommy mentor," pp. 50-3.

How to be a good mom mentorPhoto: Johnher.com

Open your ears

If you’re always talking, you’ll miss how her situation might differ from yours.

How to be a good mom mentorPhoto: Courtney Keating/iStockphoto

Don't judge

While the answer to another mom’s dilemma might seem obvious, it’s not to her. You may be ahead in the game, but you were once in her shoes.

Read more: An open letter to moms who judge>

How to be a good mom mentorPhoto: vitapix/iStockphoto

Think back

If you can’t recall what it was like, you can’t relate.

How to be a good mom mentorPhoto: onebluelight/iStockphoto

Be empathetic

Sometimes the solution is just having someone who nods and understands.

Read more: Bringing empathy into the classroom>

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How to be a good mom mentorPhoto: Miodrag Gajic/iStockphoto

Don't leap ahead

Advice is most helpful if it’s useful soon. Telling moms about what’s coming too far down the road can scare them silly.

How to be a good mom mentorPhoto: Dean Mitchell/iStockphoto

Be open to another way

You may be her mentor, but you can learn from the new kid on the block, too!

How to be a good mom mentorPhoto: laflor/iStockphoto

More great tips for parents

How to be a good mom mentor
This article was originally published on Apr 12, 2013

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