My mother sat me down one time and told me she would always be there for me, no mather what. She would rather hear from me if I do drugs (or wathever) and help me out, than for me to deal alone with problems.
And she acts like that. She hears me out, is one my side, helps me to find solutions. That's why I trust her.
Real life advice from real women
More Tips Tagged "parenting"
How to calm a screaming 2/3 yr old
read more >>
How to solve teething problems
read more >>
How to treat nappy rash
read more >>
How to make bubble blowing solution at home
read more >>
How to travel by train with children and a lot of...
read more >>
How to make peace with a mom whose daughter bit yo...
read more >>
How to teach your kids about paedophiles
read more >>
How to stop your children's friends disrespecting...
read more >>
How to make homework companionable and fun
read more >>
How to freeze puréed food for weaning
read more >>
More tags
grandma
safety
meeting up
engagement
flowers
cleaning
cooking fish
laundry
subscriptions
oldies
driving
kitchen
avocado
hot
jealousy
freezing
pride
labels
boyfriends
health diets
descale
life
addiction
pubic
for oldies
remover
sweaters
houseshare
split hair
Stroppy
sweat
skin
mildew
make up
Pregnant.
lemon wedges
Gym
oatmeal
lunches
cheap
death
blackheads
Tan
potty training
1
furniture
food health
plucking
anxiety
intern
black clothing
junk mail
pin
love
stubble
garden pots
garden
popular
sex
waist
dye out of satin
flying
diy
alcoholics
honey
underams
moving
feet
books
fitness
boyfriend
bras
body spray
missed period
hangovers
protection
blisters
autism
sleep boyfriend
rough friend
worry
linen
house
high school boys
smells
sellotape
hips
jia
inch-loss
sinus conjestion
swelling
health
running
self-tanner
exfoliate
watering
krispy kreme
growth marks
top tips rating
stomach
skincare
clean
creases
dogs
plant
cookery books
older
beauty
break-ups
Manners
menopause
foundation
marriage
scrub
anti-ageing
carpet stain
spare time
pigeons
break-up
dye satin ?
london
work
fire
burglars
thin hair
water
men
baked beans
single
compost
lawn
shaving
pianos
cars
13
salt shakers
dessert
money
television
flat chested
apples
home perms
marks
keep cool
shy
blusher
couples
123
vases
dinners
bikini
fun
underarms
business
family
sweep fringe
seedlings
earrings
nutrition
waxing
technology
facebook
Mood swings.
natural
break ups
humidity
period
relationships
lemons
bananas
coachtrip
football
food
poached eggs
create
summer school
confused.
clothing
self-tan
shave rash
holiday
self esteem
advice
decorating
friend
hot oil
pain
realtionships
argue
buying
roast potatoes
cravings
fake tan
age difference
birthdays
baby
career
grief
curly
tanning
cheesecake
academic effort
windows
video games
soup
greenfly
onions
smoke
unrequited
cute
carpets
website
hobbies
Employment
girlfriend
stress at work
painting
wine
heart
splinters
Leisure
bathroom
collar
pills/ vitamins
delicate plants
petrol
illness
shyness
accessories
dresscode
eyebrows
relationship
breakfast
biscuits
legs
long hair
blood
fish
mayonnaise
interview
Topics: parenting
How to get your teenager to communicate
-
Go for a ride in a car, just the two of you. If you are sitting shoulder to shoulder and you are not making eye contact, its very easy for the kids to open up. Also, talk to him like an adult. Don't be judgemental. I work with teenagers and I get them to spill their guts fast, because they know that I'll listen without judging. Also, tell them about thing you did when you were younger, and not just the good two shoes stuff, but the things that were fun at the time but turned out to be a bad idea. And don't lie about things like drugs. Just tell them it was a different time and you didn't have all the information you needed to make the best choice. Teenagers respect honesty and vunerability.
-
Talk to your teenagers while you’re apparently absorbed in something else (cooking, ironing, sewing). You’ll get more information without eye contact.
-
If the teenager is a boy, feed him. If the teenager is a girl, take her shopping. :-) No matter the sex of your teenager, make sure you have dinner together as a family as often as possible. Cooking, eating and cleaning up together naturally makes the perfect climate for conversaton.
-
Don't irritate them. by prying into their lives, you're causing them to not want to open up to you. If you hang onto their every word, they get suspicious about what you're doing with the information and don't want to confide in you. whatever you do, don't nag them, and don't punish them without hearing the full story. Do'nt ever, ever pick on your child. being a teenager is hard enough without your criticism.Also, recognize that growing up now is not the same as when you were growing up and respect these differences. dont violate your teens privacy or betray their secrecy. as long as you remain truly open minded, and don't do anything rash, they should communicate. treat them to something special. Realize that they might not be able to tell you everything, and respect their confidentiality.
-
Try reading newspaper advice columns out loud over meals (esp. weekend breakfasts/ lunches). Read any question, not just ones that affect teenagers. I'd say something like, "listen to this person's problem," read the letter, and my kids would invariably pipe up with their own solutions & insights. We'd then compare with what the columnist's response. This has opened up great discussions -- funny, touching, practical -- and has helped my kids become better problem solvers and more empathetic people.
-
Teenagers dont like to be treated like children enroll more trust in them get them to help you with fun stuff around the house,because the more things you do together the closer you will become and thats when they ill start talking to you and telling you want they have been up to.
-
Let them moan to you. If they're stressed about a teacher, don't stick up for the teacher! There is nothing more irritating! Show them you're on their side even if you don't really agree with them. Be supportive and this will encourage them to open up to you more often.
-
tell them you will do somthing they like if they tell you, or tell them you will make them leave
-
I agree that spending time as a family even if it is only the occasional meal together really helps and gives everyone involved a chance to voice their opinions but you must also try and stay calm if you hear something you don't like cause shouting gets you no where and talking and explaining calmly that something is bad.. If you hit a brick wall wait till all have calmed down and try again later.
-
I am practically a teenager I am 21 but I know what it is like when I was the ages of 12-17/when I still lived with my parents....I hated it when my mom asked me questions the night of the date.. I go to a dance club then she would ask stuff such as did you kiss anyone ???and I would get upset because it was a complete and total invasion of privacy and I would not answer so parents (I am one now but they are not teenagers lol) be careful of your timing if you want to know what is up if they are currently in a relationship for example .....then just start a casual conversation they might even open up without you even asking the question if you are calm and collective about it.
-
There are some great answers to this question! The only thing I can add is that eating out, one to one (McDonalds/Cafe Nero), always worked for us.
-
Offer to drive them when they are going out - its amazing how much you can find out from "idle chat" in the car!
-
Be blunt. tell them you need to talk. Don't sugercoat anything, me and my mother are blunt about everything and we're so close!
-
teenagers are young adults and need to be treated with respect.we have to understand they are going through a rough part of life.some parents ground their kids but it does not work,i used to think 'im not bothered'.listen to them,dont jump down their throughts other wise it ends in a shouting match
-
The fear of being told 'I told you so' is a powerful deterrent in confiding in your parents so let them make their mistakes and always be the one there to help pick up the pieces.
-
take them out for lunch or coffee and just talk about anything before you ask what is up, if you keep things light they will open up, when they do, don't make a big deal out of anything they say, even if it does shock you there and then, just shrug and go onto something else and then go back to it awhile later and they will open up more.
-
Don't make it seem obvious that you want to talk to them. Do an activity together eg, cooking or shopping and casually slip it into the conversation. If they see you coming in head on for a full blown motherly chat they'll block you out with blunt answers and make a run for it.
-
I'm 15 and I absolutely hate when my mum tries to gossip with me - it's so cringey!! Parents shouldn't try to be their teenager's best friend. Instead, it's best when mum says something like "how's school/work/exams/drama goin?". Being a bit specific makes it easier for me to open up, rather than just say "im fine." Just don't ask questions that parents naturally shouldn't know the answer to, like "did you kiss him then?" - that's just embarassing and nosy and it will make it harder for your teen to talk to you in the future. If a teenager isn't telling you something in particular, don't worry. They're probably sorting out whatever it is with their friends. They'll come to you when they need to. Good luck. =)
