And it certainly isn’t that we should assume the worst whenever a young person suddenly becomes quiet.
The lesson is simpler.
Pay attention to changes in behavior, but don’t jump to conclusions.
If a child seems upset, ask.
If they don’t want to talk immediately, give them space.
If something genuinely concerning appears, take it seriously and seek appropriate help.
And perhaps most importantly, create an environment where children know they can tell you difficult things without immediately being punished or judged.
Technology has made communication instant.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean understanding someone has become instant.
Sometimes you still have to sit down.
Sometimes you have to wait.
Sometimes you have to listen.
And sometimes the thing that looks suspicious at first turns out to be something completely different.
The Phone Wasn’t the Real Story
I think about that afternoon differently now.
At first, I thought the phone had changed the mood.
