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This is divulged everyday in a local radio station that explicitly states, “If the music is too loud for you, then you’re too old.” Parents need to accept and respect if not appreciate the “music” of the younger generation. Similarly, children must learn to accept and respect the “music” of the older generation. Time is a crucial factor in bridging communication gap between parents and children. Children feel important when their parents spend time with them. This is true because when little interaction is present between parents and children, children think and feel that their parents do not care about them. Children also feel important when their parents take time off from work to be with them because they feel that they are valued more than work. This problem is common among many families because many parents work day and night just to give their children a good future. As a result, parents have no more time for their children. Children on the other hand, may be appreciative of the financial support that their parents offer them but as much as children need money, they need their parents even more. Also, when quality time is spent each day together, relating to the attitude of each other becomes easier. Familiarity will be developed and eventually, if both parties make enough effort, a bond will be created between them. The experiences that they spent together may also establish memories that can be treasured in the future. Subsequently, through time, parents and children would learn to talk and listen. These two are also essential factors in lessening the communication gap. Settling differences are done with fewer complications if parents and children would just talk about their existing problems with each other. In most circumstances, families who talk about their problems with each other have a greater chance in solving their disputes than families who keep silent. This is because family talks would make both parents and children aware of the wrong things they have done. As a result, the mistake that they committed would serve as a lesson for the both of them. Also, talking would give both parties a chance to explain their side. Knowing the perspective of each other would give them a clearer view of the situation because of this, misunderstandings and misinterpretations would be avoided. Talking would also make them aware of their defectiveness as parents or as children. If both parties were aware of their defectiveness, fulfilling their roles and obligations as better and effective parents or children would be easier. Another positive effect of talking would be the development of trust. Children are more likely to become trustworthy because parents believe that their children wouldn’t want to tell them delinquencies thus, children avoid involving themselves in doing improper things. A personal example of this would be my family. My parents and I treat each other like friends. We talk about our activities everyday and because of this, I no longer do thoughtless and selfish things. If I know that I would lie about certain actions, I would try to avoid engaging myself in such acts. As a result, my parents trust me even more. Talking in addition, has a partner –- listening. Listening is also another important factor in bridging communication gap as mentioned above. A good listener suggests that he is a good consoler. Children would more likely open up to their parents if they know that their parents would help ease their problems. Also, when parents are good listeners, children feel that they could tell them anything. The usual problem in many situations is that both parties talk too much and no one ever listens. An effective communication is a two-way process -- one talks and the other one listens. Understanding and respecting the actions of each other can also lessen communication gap. In circumstances where communication gap is a result of age difference, understanding is the main key in solving it. Parents who are old-fashioned can maintain a good communication despite their differences if they try to understand the trends of the new generation. Once parents have understood how the new era works, it would be less complicated for them to relate to the actions of their children. Similarly, children can also understand their parents better if they first learn to respect the views of their parents. This happens because children react first either by debating or getting angry with their parents before understanding. Children should always try to understand why their parents have a different or contradicting perspective about a certain idea because most often, parents are right because they know what’s best for their children. Once the children have understood the views of their parents, children should compare their own views and the views of their parents before making any decisions. In this way, children would always make a reasonable decision. The presence of understanding and respect in each family would definitely lessen the friction between parents and children. Eventually, through understanding, acceptance is developed. Parents shouldn’t expect too much from their children. They should accept that their children would not always meet their parents’ accomplishments. Moreover, they should also accept that their children are not perfect and that they would from time to time commit mistakes. Parents should not only accept but also allow their children to have faults because mistakes enable a person to grow. They should however lead them to the right direction so that their children wouldn’t lose track of the right path. Similarly, children shouldn’t always expect too much from their parents because parents aren’t also perfect. Acceptance is necessary in parent-children relationship because no matter how hard the both of them try; they would never completely comprehend the actions and views of each other. This is why the acceptance of both parents and children of each other’s actions is essential in bridging communication gap. Accepting however should be done only if morals and values are still present in the actions of each other. If not, intervention should be done. Lessening the communication gap between parents and children doesn’t only mean improving their relationship but also they should exert extra effort to make each other better persons. If parents and children have a good relationship and are both effective in helping each other improve as persons, then both of them Bridging Communication Gap can truly say that they have succeeded in bridging their communication gap. The involvement of every family is required in battling against communication gap. The battle is won only if both parents and children work together if not, the family faces defeat. The consequences of the defeat are so unbearable that each family is left with only one good choice, which is to win. Bibliography: Word Count: 1155
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