At the core of every relationship lies communication. It’s the bridge through which we offer guidance, support boundaries, and love. And yet, even with the best intentions, communication between parents and children can easily become strained, confusing, or disconnected. This is true across all ages and stages of development — from toddlerhood to the teenage years — because communication isn’t just about words; it’s also about emotions, perceptions, and unmet needs on both sides.

I was reminded of this recently when my 18-year-old and I were chatting one evening. He brought up something that made me very sad. When he was about 8 years, old he and I were in a disagreement about something mundane. In the course of the argument, he said something to me that felt disrespectful. I stopped for a moment, looked at him intensely and replied, “Are you being a smart aleck?” He looked back at me a little confused but with a half grin and said “Yes.”

This blatant response of talking back triggered something in me, and I screamed at him to get up Read more…