14 Tips for Communicating with Your Parents

The preteen and teenage years are the hardest, most difficult years of every person's life. Peer pressure, changing bodies, and school. The worse part is that each of us feel like we are all alone in our experiences. None of us realize that there's always someone we can depend on, someone we can take our problems to and expect them to listen- our parents.

Of course, it's a typical belief amongst us teens that our parents have always been old and have no idea what it's like to be young, and that our music and issues are truly shocking to them. Guess what? We're wrong. Of course, some of us have a good relationship with at least one of our parents, and they've probably shared quite a few of the more exciting experiences in their lives with us (and most likely some of our friends).

Though, there will also be the parents that are just as awkward as their pubescent tween. You know, the ones who claim they've never failed a class or flunked a test. The ones that swear up and down they've never smoked pot. The ones who set the stereotype for the unapproachable, on-edge, can't-tell-'em-nothin' parent.

Either way, I'm here to provide you with some tips.
Hopefully, after reading these, you'll be able to communicate more comfortably and clearly with your parents or guardians.

Tip #1- Make eye contact, and keep it. This shouldn't only be applied to your parents, but to everyone you converse with. Making and keeping eye contact lets them know that you're being honest with them, and that they have your full attention.

Tip #2- DO give them your full attention. That is, if you want theirs.

Tip #3- Be honest. Nothing can make a situation worse than if you're caught in a lie.

Tip #4- If something's wrong, don't wait till last minute. As in, if you KNOW you're going to fail a class, don't wait until the report card comes, or the teacher calls. Let your parent's know you've been struggling, what to expect, and that you're trying to fix it.