Tips to strengthen parent-child communication

All of the above reasons can make communication between parents and their children awkward or not at the desired level. However, time heals everything. Accepting that changes are part of the process and trusting that the pieces of communication will fall into place better with time is an important step. 

Try to go as deep as possible rather than maintaining a conversation devoid of details. When you realize that you as a parent are only asking questions to check in, to see if everything is okay, stop and try to ask your adult child different questions, to encourage them to talk more.

Likewise, when adult children catch their parents talking in this way, or when they realize that they themselves keep talking in a similar way, they can reshape the conversation by asking more detailed questions or sharing details about what is going on in their lives.

If old wounds are getting in the way, it is not a good idea to avoid them, to ignore them. Put the past on the table, try to understand and make sense of what you have left behind. Let your mutual feelings out in the open; talk to heal, not to make each other feel guilty. You will see that communication will begin to evolve spontaneously as past wounds are healed.

The past is in the past, for better or worse. It is time to move forward, to move on. It is not enough to ignore and heal old wounds; you need to know that all memories, good and bad, are in the past and take action to accumulate new happy memories. It is not just phone calls; by participating in activities that will strengthen the parent-child relationship, by creating shared times, you can increase your good memories and strengthen your communication while doing so. Spending more time together can help solve existing communication problems and prevent potential problems.

Relationships can be strengthened more easily when both parties accept feedback about how the communication feels. An adult child can tell their parents what kind of conversations make them feel comfortable or uncomfortable, or ask for a certain tone of voice to be changed to a different one during a conversation. In the same way, a parent can tell their child about their expectations in communication. Giving and accepting feedback enables both more functional communication and a stronger relationship.

In addition to all this, increase the frequency of communication for a real, deep and meaningful relationship. Both parents and their adult children have a lot of work to do in this regard. Text, call, create a special time in the evenings and chat if you live in the same house, video chat if you are far away. Make an effort to strengthen your bond.

Also improve your communication skills to strengthen your relationship with your parents, your children, your partner and other people in your social circle.