Issue: My teen will not talk to me and I really want to know what is going on with them.

Insight: When children don't communicate is is because they learned that behavior from someone of influence in their lives, usually a parent. The same way a person of influence can also build this bridge of communication as well. The way to build this bridge is to start sitting down with your child one on one and talk with them. Be open and honest with them about yourself as well. When they see that you are willing to trust them and share about what your spiritual struggles they will be more willing to come to you with their struggles.

Be approachable. If every time your children come to talk to you and you put them off, eventually they will stop coming to you. If they come to you at a time when you really can't give them your full attention, explain that you value what they want to talk about so much that you want to be able to give them your full attention and you can't right now. Tell them how long you will be, and then make sure you keep that time frame and when you talk to them, be completely focused on what they want to talk about.

If there has been a long time of no communication, be aware that it could take a lot of time and patience to build the bridge of communication between you and your child.