“What’s up?” (with your teen)
Because sometimes it takes a little code to communicate.
It can feel intimidating to approach your own child when surrounded by their friends, when they reach their teen years. There’s that look making me feel like the alien outsider (when I know full well that they are really the little aliens) but suddenly I am the one feeling awkward.
“What do you want, Mom?” (Their pointed look says, make it quick and don’t embarrass me!)
I never intended to embarrass my children. It was the last thing I wanted. However, it seemed okay with them if they embarrassed me — just don’t switch the roles or there comes the stink eye.
And it didn’t take much…
“How was school today?” — and my child with her friends all looked at each other with secret snickers (so, did I interrupt that exact conversation but now there will be a different version of an answer for me? What did I say? Did something happen? Did I put my foot in my mouth?)
I often left these situations feeling out of my element, a bit confused, and a little on the unhappy side — like I just missed the boat, like this teenaged universe was foreign and would always remain unchartered for me.
So, what’s a mom to do?
