Sometimes our children drop terms into conversation that sound like a record scratch to parents and mentors. Words like “shook” and “triggered” serve as cultural slang to describe a moment that caught your girl off guard or caused a fight-or-flight response in her brain.  

When she confides in you, avoid the gut instinct to immediately interrupt in order to define the term you don’t understand. Remember, it’s a blessing that your girl is opening up to you! Once she’s at a pause-point in the story, ask her what “shook” means to her.  

Keeping a healthy, open conversation with your girl is a relationship to be treasured and cultivated with care. Even if you risk sounding antique, go the extra mile to understand her perspective. 

Listen to the Raising Godly Girls Minute with Patti Garibay: