Thank you for your question. First, it’s important to understand that this is a normal part of growing up. When we are young, our parents are the centre of our universe and we cling to them all the time. However, when we enter our teenage years, our parents and younger siblings don’t seem to be as relevant and this is where the relationship may start to fray. As we enter our mid-to-late teens or early adulthood, we find ourselves returning to the support of our parents. In order to keep the relationship alive when we start to feel that drift happening, here are some ways to rekindle the friendship:

• Share stories about your life, what happened at school or something funny you read online or a post on Instagram that you found interesting. Dinner time is a great time to have these conversations.
• Ask your parents about their childhood, their teenage years, their struggles. Perhaps go out for a coffee with them when having these conversations.
• Be present. Rather than staying in your room or the basement or outside—make it a point to sit in the same room as your parent(s) and just be there. You can read a book, or catch up on social media, or do some homework—being in the same physical space is often a powerful way to remain connected without words.
• Naseeha, sincere advice, is among the rights Muslims have upon each other. So seek Naseeha from your parents or give Naseeha to your parents—look for opportunities, as this will build trust and reliance in your relationship with your parent(s).