Conversation stilted

[hopeishere]

We were out for Easter yesterday and at one point it was just me and DS17 at the table and I couldn’t think of a single topic of conversation. We are a quiet family anyway but I couldn’t think of anything to talk about without making it sound like an endless round of questions.

In conjunction I’ve noticed DS struggles in a big group situation- so we went to my sister’s later - four mature adults, three young adults (20s) and two teens including DS,it was a group conversation and he barely said anything. Got his phone out a few times. He spoke to my sister twice but they were non sequiturs (DH does this as well).

I’m not sure why I’m posting. I see other big loud family groups out and we are this wee quiet family and it makes me sad.

No advice, but I find talking to my 17 yo boy a bit awkward too so I feel your pain!

I wouldn’t necessarily find him struggling in big group settings or not having much to say around mainly older adults that he doesn’t know well unusual. Presuming he has his own friends?

But I do find it sad that you two can’t have a conversation together.
Do you not normally do much together? No shared hobbies? Even cooking/ watching tv/ shopping/ going out for food
My children are little but with my teen step children I make extra effort to get to really know them and try and find some of their interests I can share.
DSD(19) likes nature and anything spiritual so I find us new walks to go on and let her teach me about crystals and do tarot readings etc.
DSS(16) likes films so we go to the cinema together and talk about different actors and new things that are coming out. We also both like cappuccinos so have a book and slowly going round ranking them.
They also both love big brother at the moment, I absolutely wouldn’t chose to watch it if they didn’t but enjoy sitting down and watching it with them and then getting to talk about it in the day and hear their opinions.

Thanks for replying. He knew everyone at the table really well - cousins / aunt. They are very loud though so it is hard to chip in.

We went for a dog walk together last night and that was nice. He has a great bunch of friends from school. We don’t really have shared interests - we do watch some shows together but on the whole we like different tv shows. He doesn’t really like cinema / cooking.