#267: Why Teens Can Seem Distant and How to Stay Connected

The Simplicity Parenting Podcast with Kim John Payne

Kim John Payne offers a view of adolescence by comparing teenage emotions to an artesian water flow. While younger children often express their feelings outwardly, teenagers tend to turn inward. Their emotional lives may seem hidden, but underneath the surface there is a deep, steady movement as they process and explore. Kim encourages parents not to force immediate responses but instead to place low key questions and allow space for a teen’s thoughts and feelings to emerge when they are ready. He describes the importance of patience, of knowing that even in silence there is growth. When the artesian waters do rise, perhaps through a sudden burst of conversation about friends or school, parents can be present to receive what is shared. Trusting in this deeper flow helps maintain connection through quieter phases.

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