"More often than not, when we complain that our teenagers won't talk to us, what we are really saying is, 'My teenager won't listen to me.' In order to make a connection with your teen, the conversation has to be two-sided with mutual respect. Wait until they've completely finished telling you something before jumping in with advice or an opinion."Parents also have a tendency to react first and listen later. If your teen is telling you something that troubles you, let him finish his story first. Be thankful that he's telling you at all! And temper your response so that he feels comfortable confiding in you in the future.
Copper Canyon Academy, a girls boarding school, offers a nuturing, structured environment for troubled teenage girls.
Labels: parenting_tips, communication, respect
Posted By: Aspen Education Group
Regards,
Joe Bruzzese