Talking to Your Son
It may seem like he is talking to you less and less. Even if the quantity has changed, the quality is the most important aspect of talking to your son. You need to overcome your fears of tough topics in order to have the relationship and conversations he needs in order to grow into manhood.
One of the things most parents do not realize is that every interaction with their son is important. He may end up remembering a conversation that you thought was completely inconsequential.
Essential
It can be difficult for parents to talk with one voice, yet this is the very foundation of your parenting philosophy. To do this, you have to be sure you communicate well with your partner in parenting.
There are certain conversations you have to have with your son. Some of them are about how to live a good life. Other conversations will save him time and money. There are also conversations that may save his life.
Role-playing can help your teen see how different scenarios will play out in real life. This tool is probably one of the most underused parenting tools, yet it is wildly effective.
Alert
Once he's in his mid-teens, talk to your son about his future. Ask him about his ideal career and what he needs to do to accomplish that goal. The Occupational Outlook Handbook at
You do not need to be a world famous actor to role-play effectively as a parent. You need to have at least a reasonable idea of what you're talking about and a willingness to listen and learn from your son.
You can be your son explaining a situation and let him play the teacher. This allows him to see the situation from his teacher's standpoint. He may choose to answer the situation with an appropriate answer, but if he doesn't, use the opportunity to step in and ask questions.
This technique is very handy when it comes to dealing with situations where your son needs to think. Role-playing peer relationships works very nicely. He may not realize how hard it can be when his friends say things he does not expect from them. Perhaps he can't imagine his friends ever smoking, and role-playing will help him conceptualize a situation and how to formulate an answer when you ask him what he will say if he is offered a cigarette.
Role-playing can be as serious or as silly as is appropriate for you and your son. Part of how silly it gets depends on the situation you are discussing, though it is important to realize that your son may act a bit silly as a coping mechanism.
Question
Should I use text messages to talk with my son?
Text messaging can be a handy communication tool. It may be a nice way to have a conversation with your son because it takes away the potentially intimidating quality of a face-to-face conversation. However, it can become a problem if you begin to rely on it as a primary means of communication.
