Like margarine and butter, or sweeteners and sugar, there’s a big difference between communication, and connection.

We tend to think that our kids are part of one of the most sociable generations ever. They’re constantly texting. They have more friends on Facebook than days in the year. And sure, while Skype and social media have led to a boom in adolescent communication, it’s also led to a breakdown in meaningful connection.

Mom, dad, show them what a meaningful connection looks like. Let your daily, face-to-face interactions be a model they can use for building personal relationships. When a teen sees the real thing, they’ll never be satisfied to settle for a substitute.

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