Although it can be difficult to talk to your parent(s) or guardian(s)they love and care about you and have your best interests in mind. So how exactly do you begin a conversation with them?
Here are 7 tips:
1. Recognize that your parents are there to help.
Although it can be difficult to reason with your parents sometimesthey were teenagers oncetooand more than likelythey had similar challenges. Discussing important things with your parent/guardian can actually help to strengthen your relationship with them and build mutual trust.
2. Try easing into conversations.
You can start by talking to your parents about little things every day. Chatting with your parents frequently can help keep the lines of communication open and can make it more comfortable when you need to talk to them about really important stuff.
3. Listen to your parents and ask them to really listen to what you have to say.
Some parents have strong opinions and/or personal beliefs about certain things. Make sure you start a conversation when there are no (or few) distractions. Most parents want to talk openly with their kidsbut struggle with what to say and how to say it. They can be just as anxious as you might be.
4. Know how you feel firstand let your parents know too.
Don’t let your emotions get in the way of going to your parents. Instead of not talking about your problem out of embarrassment or fear of judgmentinclude your initial feelings into the conversation. Let your parents know how you’re feeling when you’re ready to tell themand they will likely understand and want to listen to what you have to say. For exampleyou could start by saying“I feel embarrassed about what I’m going to tell youbut I need your advice.”
5. Be confidentclearand direct.
If you have a pressing problem that needs immediate attentionit’s best not to wait too long. You don’t want to walk away from the conversation feeling like you missed an important point or concern. Alsowhen you’re direct and get straight to the pointthe person you’re talking to is more likely to listen.
6. Think about talking to another trusted adult.
If you try to talk to your parent(s) and it doesn’t work outyou may find it helpful to talk to another trusted adult or relative such as an auntcounselorhealth care provider or clergy member.
7. Consider talking to a family therapist or counselor.
Meeting with a family therapist or counselor can help improve communication with your parentsparticularly if you and your parents are struggling.
With time and practiceyou and your parents can hopefully work together as a team to address all of your problems and help you figure out different ways to deal with tough situations.
Our health guides are developed through a systematicrigorous process to ensure accuracyreliabilityand trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children's Hospitala Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Reportthese guides combine clinical expertisespecialized knowledgeand evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDCNIHPubMedtop medical journalsand UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guidereinforcing our commitment to high-qualityfactualscientifically accurate health information for young people.