Parents often feel an insurmountable communications barrier is developing between themselves and their teens. There’s frequently an inclination to ignore it and put it down to ‘just a phase’ the teenager is going through. Alternatively, some parents in sheer desperation tackle such issues head on, in what can appear to the teenager to be a confrontational or accusatory approach.
The fact is that many parents feel undermined and threatened when teens fall inexplicably silent; it signifies a loss of control over their child, and a beginning to going separate ways. When a teen isn’t sharing what’s going on in his or her world anymore, parents feel shut out. Beyond this, however, the suspicious parent often believes the insular teen must have something to hide.
However, it should be remembered that many teens themselves are struggling inwardly too; it’s not often about deliberately alienating parents and elders, or concealing something. Your teens are probably trying to work out who they are and how they fit into peers, the family and society as a whole.
Talking to teens in a gentle manner and via methods they understand, should help.
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