Mom, "How was your day, dear?"
Teen, "Fine."
Mom, "Anything good going on?"
Teen, "No."
Mom, "How did your test go?"
Teen, "Fine."
And so it goes...
If you're looking for meaningful conversation with your teen, you're probably going to have to wait a few years. :) However, you might get a few more words out of his or her mouth if you try asking open-ended questions that can't be answered with one word. For example, you could say, "Tell me about your day, dear" or "What was the best part of your day?" You still might get short answers but at least his answer requires a little more thought. If you ask a whole slew of questions in an effort to get a little dialogue going, it's only going to sound like interrogation and will only hinder any genuine conversation.
Be patient. If you can maintain a trusting and open environment, he'll eventually open up...when he's ready. Good luck!
"How does that sound?" "Fine."
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