Having a conversation with my 14 year old ds is, at times, like squeezing blood from a stone. He also struggles with other adults and I think he appears sullen but he isn't - he just finds it awkward. My 12 year old dd on the other hand, is the opposite and enjoys socialising. I put this down to teenage boy behaviour but have just had a bit of a lecture from my DM (who only had girls) on how he should be more sociable, should join a debating society or something similar to encourage communication (he wouldn't want to). He is popular at school and is really chatty to his mates, but I'm feeling a bit stressed now.