What to do when your child doesn't trust you?

What to Do When Your Child Doesn’t Trust You? How to Rebuild That Bond

Understanding Why Your Child Doesn’t Trust You

Trust. It’s one of those things that you take for granted until it’s gone, and when your child doesn’t trust you, it’s like a punch to the gut, right? I get it. As a parent, it feels like your world just flipped upside down. But before you panic or think you’ve done something irreparable, let's dive into why this might be happening.

Trust isn’t built overnight, and it can certainly be broken in a moment’s notice. Maybe something happened – a lie was told, a promise broken, or even worse, an emotional hurt. Trust between parents and children is fragile. Sometimes, it can take only one event, no matter how small, to crack the foundation.

Is it Just a Phase or Something Deeper?

One thing you might be wondering is whether this is just a phase. Let’s be honest: kids are going through all kinds of changes, especially during adolescence. They start questioning everything, and sometimes, it includes you. I had this conversation with my friend Sarah the other day – her teenage daughter was suddenly distant, hardly shared anything, and didn’t want to talk. It wasn’t that she didn’t love her mom; she just couldn’t quite process her emotions yet. So, don’t rush to conclusions. Sometimes, it’s just a stage in their development.

How to Rebuild Trust with Your Child

Now comes the tough part. You’ve realized the trust is broken, and you’re feeling a bit lost. What now? Rebuilding trust isn’t easy – it requires a lot of patience, understanding, and consistency. But hey, it’s not impossible.

Be Honest About the Situation

The first thing you need to do is address the issue head-on. Don’t shy away from it. If you’ve made a mistake, admit it. Kids can smell dishonesty from a mile away. Trying to brush things under the rug or pretending nothing happened will just make things worse. And yeah, I know – sometimes it’s hard to own up to things you’ve done, especially if it’s something that may hurt their feelings. But trust me, acknowledging your mistakes will actually help build more respect.

I’ll never forget a moment with my own son, Luke. He caught me in a lie about something small – nothing major, but enough to shake his faith in me. Instead of getting defensive, I sat down with him and explained why I said what I did. He appreciated the honesty, and it started to rebuild the bridge between us.

Show Consistency and Patience

It’s easy to say, “Okay, I’ll be honest from now on,” and expect things to go back to normal in a day or two. But trust, once lost, takes time to rebuild. Don’t rush it. You have to show your child that they can rely on you again – through your actions. Consistency is key. If you promised something, follow through. If you said you’ll be there for them, make sure you are. Actions speak louder than words, especially when trust is at stake.

Creating a Safe Space for Communication

Sometimes, kids don’t trust their parents simply because they don’t feel heard. And hey, let’s be real – it can be hard to listen when you’re stressed out or frustrated. But if you want to regain that trust, you need to make sure your child knows they have a safe space to talk.

Open Up, Even if It's Uncomfortable

One mistake I used to make was assuming that if my son wasn’t talking, it meant he was fine. But as I learned, sometimes it’s up to me to open the conversation, even when I’m not sure where it’s going. Don’t wait for your child to come to you – be the one who asks, “What’s going on?” or “How are you feeling today?” And don’t interrupt. Let them speak, even if what they say is tough to hear. I’ve had to bite my tongue a few times, but it’s worth it when I see my kids starting to open up more.

Listen Without Judgment

When your child starts to talk, make sure you’re truly listening. Resist the urge to give advice right away or tell them how they should feel. Instead, validate their emotions. They need to know that you understand them, even if you don’t fully agree with their perspective. Trust me – this will make them feel like they can trust you with even the toughest topics.

What If They Still Don’t Trust You?

Here’s the reality – sometimes, no matter how hard you try, your child might still struggle to trust you. And that’s okay. Don’t beat yourself up about it. Trust is a complex thing, and every relationship has its own timeline. But if you stay patient, consistent, and supportive, you’ll give them the best chance of regaining that trust.

Respect Their Boundaries

If your child is distant or doesn’t want to talk, it might be because they’re not ready. You need to respect their space, even if it feels like rejection. I learned this the hard way, and it took me a while to realize that sometimes, giving them the space they need is exactly what they need from me. Pushing too hard can make them retreat even further.

Conclusion: Keep the Faith and Be Patient

If you’ve been feeling like you’re losing your child’s trust, don’t despair. It’s possible to rebuild, but it will take time, effort, and a lot of heart. I know it can be frustrating at times – you might feel like you’ve tried everything and nothing’s working. But trust is something you can’t rush. Just be there, show up every day, and be consistent. The road may be long, but in the end, you’ll see the reward of a deeper, more trusting bond with your child.

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Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

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Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.