Every parent has been in a position of trying to reason with their teenager and them simply leaving you with an eye roll. Maybe you called your teen in for dinner and got only silence or a distracted "in a minute" while they scrolled through their phone. It's a scene so relatable it can make any parent both frustrated and long at the same time. As your child enters their teenage years, the importance of establishing and maintaining trust becomes crucial in your relationship. This transition is not only about navigating mood swings and changes in interests; it's about the balancing act of your teenager's desire for independence and your need for safety and connection.A healthy relationship is built on trust. Trust in good sense and abilities, honesty in others-this is the understanding of a healthy relationship. When your child was much younger, he or she most probably trusted you completely-in his eyes, as it were, you're the protector. Now with growing independence, that trust is exposed to be tested. That is when your child becomes more insightful about actions of others, questions if the said actions are actually done.This transition may create a gap between the parents and the teens. For these people to bridge this gap, mutual trust has to be worked upon. As a parent, you have to learn that you cannot demand trust; it's earned based on constant actions and open communication. Once trust is established, it can significantly strengthen your relationship, laying a solid foundation for your child to develop health relationships in the future.It is in adolescence that personal space becomes so important to teens. They are at an intensely private stage of their lives, and the desire for privacy does not mean they are untrustworthy. This is pretty crucial knowledge for a healthy relationship between parents and their teens. Instead of this being seen as a test of character, treat this as a time to show your respect toward the growing independence.But with that freedom comes the danger of bad decision-making. Your teens must learn to make choices-even if those choices might lead them into making mistakes. Mistakes can be very valuable learning experiences that will help them develop wisdom and judgment necessary for adulthood. It may be difficult, but let your teen know it is all right to stumble and to learn from his or her mistakes in order to grow resilient and confident.Ways You Can Rebuild Trust with your Teenage ChildIf you happen to find that the trust has been broken between you and your teenager, consider the following ways to rebuild it:1. Step Back and RefocusTake a step back for a moment and reflect on the significant role you play in your teenager's life. Your parenting style influences how they decide things. Be sure to set up an environment that will foster openness and mutual respect between you and your teen. Do not see your teenager's failures as failures, but as teaching moments that lead to growth.2. Treat Your Teenager with RespectIt is not easy to respect a teenager who has broken your trust, but it is very important to separate behavior from the person. Treating your teen with respect does not mean condoning inappropriate behavior; it means that you acknowledge their worth as an individual. When you respect your teen, you create an environment where they feel valued, increasing the likelihood they will reciprocate that respect and trust.3. Focus on rebuilding the relationshipInstead of focusing solely on correcting your teen's behavior, work on rebuilding your relationship. Learn to accept the fact that mistakes are a means of learning. When your teen stumbles, be ready to engage in a constructive conversation instead of lecturing them. Be attentive to their feelings, even when they think and say things that hurt you. This makes one understand the other and gives an opportunity for deeper discussions.4. Be PatientTrust can't develop overnight. Be patient with the development process, just as you should be patient with yourself and your teenager. There will be setbacks; commitment to the process is all that will help overcome them. Celebrate each bit of progress, such as a good conversation or a positive modification in behavior.The teenage years can be quite a messy journey, presenting challenges and many opportunities for growth. By focusing on mutual trust, respecting your teenager's need for independence, and providing open communication, a robust relationship can be developed with them. This will not only help the teen navigate through the period of transition to adulthood but also into a healthy future relationship. Finally, trust development in an absolute journey with your teenager is one of the greatest gifts you can have in parenting.