DEAR ABBY: I am a 15-year-old girl in need of advice about my mother. Although Mom and I rarely get into arguments, it seems we've grown apart. We don't seem to trust each other like we used to. We don't talk the way my friends talk to their moms.
Now that I'm getting older, I wish more and more that my mother and I could have the "best friend" relationship other daughters have with their moms. I love her very much, but wish I could talk to her about school and boys.
What can I do to break the ice so my mother and I can be more open with each other? -- WANTING TO BE CLOSER IN THE CAROLINAS
DEAR WANTING TO BE CLOSER: Get your mother's full attention. Find a quiet spot, sit her down, and tell her that now that you're a teenager, you need her more than ever.
Schedule a regular time you can be together without interruption. Trust isn't built overnight. Begin confiding in her and see how she reacts. If she reacts badly, look for another adult in whom you can confide.