If you’re parenting a tween or teen, congratulations—you’ve officially entered the land of eye rolls, mysterious door slams, and conversations made entirely of grunts and sighs. However, don’t be fooled by the sarcasm, side-eyes, or screen obsession: your big kid still craves connection. They may not say it out loud (unless you’re lucky), but especially when military life pulls one parent away—whether it’s a deployment, long shift, or back-to-back trainings—they need to feel grounded, seen, and supported.

This part of the Bridging the Gap series is all about using trust, tech, and just the right amount of “I swear I’m not trying to be cool” energy to keep those bonds strong, even when your teen is communicating solely through memes and monosyllables.

Ideas for Staying Connected:

• Private Text/Email Threads: Give them a space that’s just theirs—no pressure, no lectures—just a safe channel to share jokes, updates, or late-night venting.
• Shared Interests: Whether it’s bingeing the same show, listening to the same podcast, or keeping a weekly video game rivalry alive, having a shared “thing” creates natural opportunities to connect.
• Voice Memos or Marco Polo: Asynchronous messaging gives both of you space to respond when it works—without the awkwardness of a forced FaceTime.
• Venting Is Welcome: Create room for your teen to be frustrated, confused, or sad—without rushing to fix it. Just listening can build incredible trust.
• Homecoming Involvement: Let them help plan your return—playlist, snacks, airport signs, whatever. Including them makes the countdown feel like a team effort.

Even if your teen swears they’re “fine” while wearing the same hoodie for the third week straight, don’t underestimate the impact of consistent, low-pressure connection. A quick voice memo, a text full of inside jokes, or a shared Spotify playlist can mean the world—yes, even if their response is just a thumbs-up emoji. You don’t need to master TikTok or decode their slang (in fact, please don’t try—they will not recover). You just need to keep showing up.

So, go ahead—send the meme, share the podcast, and keep the line open, because behind every shrug and side-eye is a kid who still needs to feel close to their parent—even from across the world. Stay tuned for the final piece in the Bridging the Gap series—because connection doesn’t stop when the bags are packed and the countdown hits zero.

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