I want to share something more about the process of connecting with
your teens. When my husband and I traveled to Paris and Spain to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary, we aimed to experience joy, fun, and meaningful connections. We aimed to recognize what we had in common with the people we met while honoring their differences. We intended to relate to people as human beings rather than individuals with particular personalities, cultures, viewpoints, genders, or ethnicities. It made our trip far more enjoyable and exciting as we connected with everyone we met, whether they were waiters, hotel staff, or celebrities.
So, it’s not just about the act of connecting. You can connect with people at dinner parties, exchange information, and chat, but was the interaction meaningful? Did you make a difference for that person? Did you learn something? Of course, every connection doesn’t have to be meaningful, but it makes a difference when it is.
This experience made me think more about connecting with teens. How can parents have meaningful connections that make their teens feel heard, known, and appreciated? The answer is simple but something we tend to forget. As you guide your teens through life’s challenges, remind yourself that they are human beings. Their experiences might differ, but they live, love, laugh, hurt, cry, and make mistakes like you do. They may be younger and have less experience. They may have different interests, personalities, gender preferences, and talents. But remember the common thread that runs through all of us—being human. If you keep that in mind, your connections with your teens will be more compassionate, loving, and understanding.
I recently had a wonderful conversation on the Blue Sky Podcast with Bill Burke from The Optimism Institute.
All the best,
Dr. Liz