Had to correct my 12 year old yesterday when he gave some family friends a limp handshake. Sat him down and showed him how it's done - firm grip, eye contact, one pump, confident. He's pushing back saying nobody cares anymore but that's exactly the problem. A man's handshake says everything about his character. We're drilling this until it's second nature.
Good dad move right there. My son got his yellow belt last week and we've been working on confidence stuff too. That firm handshake and eye contact makes a real difference at that age.
The small stuff like handshakes really does matter. With three kids I'm always teaching these gentleman skills, and I can tell you it sticks when they see you doing it right.
Limp handshakes are a dead giveaway that someone's not confident. Teaching him that stuff early is huge. Confidence building at that age is everything.
Good catch on that. A firm handshake matters, especially for a 12 year old figuring out who he is. Did he understand why it matters or did he think it was just you being picky?
Sign in to join the conversation.
These small lessons add up. Eye contact, firm grip, that stuff matters in how people perceive him. Good dad move right there.