B a r b a r a s h e r I l L u s t r a t I o n s b y r a L p h

T
Y P E S O F
A
T T E N T I O N
E
N C O U R A G E D
Open and focused
170
Attention Games
10_736546 ch05.qxp 5/26/06 12:01 PM Page 170

---

M
A T E R I A L S
None or paper and pen
D
I R E C T I O N S
Pretend that you and your teenager are at the restaurant of life and are plac-
ing an order for what you want.
List things just as you would when ordering a meal. Order an appetizer,
a main meal, some side dishes, and a dessert.
Then begin to feel the anticipation of what is coming. It’s the anticipa-
tion and the visualizing that help reinforce expectations and strengthen
intention.
For example, if your daughter wants a new relationship, her order
might sound like this:
“For an appetizer, I’d like a surprisingly delicious good time at a event
where I meet my future boyfriend.
“For the main dish, I’d like this person to be intelligent, attractive, and
kind and to absolutely adore and appreciate me.
“For the side dish, I’d like him to know how to canoe and want to teach
me. For another side, I’d like him to have a good buddy for my friend.
“For dessert, I’d like him to be a good kisser.”
V
A R I A T I O N
If this is done in a group, it might be fun for everyone to write up his or
her orders as if they were selections on a menu in a restaurant and then
share the menus with each other. They might even want to name their
restaurant and take orders. “Anyone want to order something from my
Dream Delight Café?”
W
H A T
’
S
B
E I N G
L
E A R N E D
Teenagers are learning to take a wide-open view of life’s possibilities and
then focus on the details of their desires. Expecting the order to come helps
them stay in a receptive, positive place.