1. Buy a mini van. I know, I know this is an expensive step, but I haven’t proven that this method works in any other vehicles.
2. Offer to drive your teenagers and their friends to and from the random places that they want to go. I know gas is expensive and you really would like to spend your time doing other things than going to the mall, movies, or <insert place of little interest to you here> again.
3. Turn the radio to a station that you know your teenager doesn’t like because it’s ‘Old people music.’ Even better, a really bad CD.
4. When asked to change the station, don’t. Instead compromise by turning the volume down as to not disturb any conversation that your teenager and her friends might want to have, because you know, you really like this song.
5. Bop your head to the music that you can barely hear and listen to the conversation start up in the back of the van. Don’t be tempted to butt in or engage them in conversation as this will alert the teenagers that you can hear them, instead just keep listening, you will be amazed at what you might hear.
You’re Welcome.
About Heather Durdil
