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Q: I get so discouraged over what I see in our country. So many problems driven by so much negativity and animosity. In the midst of all this arguing, what can one person do?

Jim: I'll start with a simple analogy. Let's say you're in a public bathroom drying your hands when you see a used paper towel on the floor. Do you pick it up and toss it in the trash? Who knows where that thing has been or what it's touched?

In general, society is seldom transformed by sweeping changes. Cultural change usually comes through myriads of small things you and I do every day at the grassroots level. We see problems around us -- big and small. Do we ignore them because we don't want to touch them? What if they contaminate us? Let somebody else handle it.

How often do we walk by and ignore what we see? The problem is that everybody else wants to ignore the problem, too. Before long, one stray paper towel becomes a bathroom so filthy you can't stand to be in it.

You've likely heard the famous quote often attributed to Irish statesman Edmund Burke: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Few of us have the power to change the world. But we can all do something to make our corner of the world a better place to be. We can all replace the truly ugly with something beautiful. If nothing else, a smile goes a long way.

If we each just "pick up a paper towel," we'll start to clean things up. And it starts with a piece of 2000-year-old wisdom from the individual whom Easter is all about: Treat others the way you yourself want to be treated.

Q: Our teen daughter is chatty with her friends and loves to interact with them through text or social media. But we, her parents, can barely get three words out of her! How can we get her to talk with us more?

Dr. Danny Huerta, Vice President, Parenting & Youth: This can be disappointing and confusing as a parent, but it's common. Don't take it personally! Driven by their developmental need for peer connection, teens often communicate more openly with friends than family -- particularly through texting and social media.

Research links good parent-teen conversation to decreases in delinquency, substance use and risky sexual behavior. It's also tied to increased self-confidence, well-being, academic performance, healthy decision-making and deep connection. To enhance communication with your daughter, consider these five strategies:

1. Prioritize Emotional Conversations. Begin with emotional topics before transitioning to practical matters. Focus on understanding her feelings and experiences rather than problem-solving.

2. Validate Her Feelings. Acknowledge the emotions, thoughts and experiences she's wrestling. This is different than affirming them. Recognize the appeal to her of texting and social media as communication tools.

3. Cultivate Curiosity. Teens long to be known. Show genuine interest in her life by asking thoughtful questions. Avoid immediately jumping to solutions, which can make her feel misunderstood.

4. Practice Presence. Put aside distractions and give her your undivided attention. Listen actively and reflect back her words to ensure you're understanding. Also consider the underlying emotions she may not be openly expressing.

5. Be Patient and Playful. Remember, adolescence is an emotionally laced time involving insecurities, dreams, disappointments and more. Playfulness creates a bond -- and patience expresses deep love. Look in her eyes and remind her how much you value her.

Communication takes practice. As you lay the foundation for connection, your daughter will be more likely to open up to more practical conversations with you.

For more resources to help your family thrive, visit www.FocusOnTheFamily.com/parenting.

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Jim Daly is a husband and father, an author, and president of Focus on the Family and host of the Focus on the Family radio program. Catch up with him at jimdalyblog.focusonthefamily.com or at Facebook.com/JimDalyFocus.

Copyright 2025 Focus On The Family. (This feature may not by reproduced or distributed electronically, in print or otherwise without written permission of Focus on the Family.)

COPYRIGHT 2025 Andrews McMeel Syndication. This feature may not be reproduced or distributed electronically, in print or otherwise without the written permission of Andrews McMeel Syndication.