Joanna Fortune: My teenage son and husband seem to be drifting apart  

My husband is a big sports fan but my son couldn't care less so they miss out on the bonding opportunity of watching a game or going to matches

Shared joy encourages children to pursue other connections where they feel valued and enjoyed. In your son’s case, it starts with becoming more interested in what he finds interesting. Picture: iStock 

My husband is a big fan of soccer and sports, but my teenage son couldn’t care less. It’s a pity, as watching a game or going to matches could be a good bonding opportunity. They were close when my son was very young, but now they seem to be drifting apart. Is there anything I can do to help reestablish their connection?

As our children grow and develop, they often pull away from their parents — they explore and discover their own identity through new tastes (in clothes, music, etc), interests, and friendships. To stay connected with them, the onus is on us as parents to become interested in what our teenagers care about.