He is in the passenger seat, even though the pediatrician recommends against it at this age. At work, I advise others to focus on communication. “So, what are the kids in third grade talking about?” He speaks of a rumor: Two kids holding hands at recess! He uses the word “romantic” in a sentence. As I gaze ahead at the dark road and tighten my grasp on the steering wheel, I hold my tongue. I use active listening techniques as I have been trained, with some nodding, summarizing, probing questions, reflective statements. Internally, I beg “Please always talk to me.”
Naazia Azhar is a psychiatrist and mom of four. She grew up in New York City and currently resides in St. Louis, Missouri.