“There’s no point in talking to you: you don’t understand me. You don’t even know me.” a teen spats a her mum.

For many moms, these are devastating words. It feels like your child is a world away from you – after all the effort, love, and care. Moms are not superheroes and we do make mistakes. It is hard if a child throws that back in your face and a rift between you and your child suddenly develops with the onset of puberty.

The fact that teens live on their cell phones and prefer to communicate via text, hampers communication between family members even more. They chat with friends for advice and solace and often get really bad advice. Parental interference is easily rejected. They seem to share everything with friends but become evasive or mute if a parent asks about their day.

Elizabeth Berkley ( actress & philanthropist) gives some tips that might assist you in navigating the terrain. You can click on the following tips to read what she suggests:

1. How to open the door gently

2. How to create a no-judgment zone

 

“What’s More Important: Your Ego or Hearing Your Child?”

3. Never use her truth against her

4.  Show her you’re human, too

5.  Stay Calm

Fear of your reaction equals them shutting down.

6.  Don’t Rush To Fix The Problem

Elizabeth states in her article ” Ultimately, what the girls want is for moms to listen to them. Just listen like no one else on the planet would, without necessarily jumping right in and trying to fix their problems for them. Listen in a way that lets your daughter know there is nowhere you would rather be and no one you would rather be with.”

She says in a way it comes down to being a mom and a friend. She agrees this is the time when ”girls are individuating and need to fly, but at the same time, the girls say deep down they need their mothers now more than ever — the ways just might be different than when they were little.”

Source:

http://www.oprah.com/spirit/how-to-better-communicate-with-your-daughter-ask-elizabeth