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How to Connect With Your Teenage Son: A Reminder That He's Listening
Connecting with my 13-year-old son, Gio, has gotten a little harder lately.
I suppose that's part of having a teenager. Conversations change. They become more independent. And sometimes you wonder if they're listening to anything you say.
The other evening, we were driving back to the baseball fields when Gio casually announced:
"Dusk is the most dangerous time of day to drive."
"You're right!" I said. "Who told you that?"
"You did."
I laughed. I had absolutely no recollection of telling him that.
But he remembered.
Connecting With Your Teenager in Everyday Moments
As parents, we spend so much time trying to teach our children things. We offer advice, explain how the world works, and occasionally wonder if any of it is sinking in.
I've written before about teaching kids life lessons through everyday experiences, but sometimes I forget just how much they're absorbing along the way.
And then, out of nowhere, they repeat something you said years ago.
Not some profound life lesson. Just a random fact about driving at dusk.
I've found that connecting with my teenage son doesn't always require a serious conversation.
I've experienced these little moments of connection before. I wrote about a night with Gio that brought us closer together, through baseball, music, and simply spending time together. Sometimes the smallest moments are the ones that stay with us.
Lately, connecting with Gio hasn't always been easy. He's growing up, finding his independence, and becoming his own person. That's exactly what he's supposed to do.
Lately, connecting with Gio hasn't always been easy. He's growing up, finding his independence, and becoming his own person. That's exactly what he's supposed to do.
Still, it was nice to be reminded that somewhere in all those conversations we've had over the years, he's been paying attention.
I don't remember when I taught him that little fact.
But he does.
And sometimes, that's enough to remind me that he's still listening.
“Know what’s enough. Build what matters.”
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