<p>Are you sad because your son is not sharing? Or sad because you’re lonely? Those are two different things. If you’re sad because your son isn’t sharing, try asking specific “safe” questions. Don’t ask if he has a girlfriend–ask what’s his favorite course? why? what’s his professor like? what does he think of the Tea Party? Treat him like an adult you’re just getting to know, and be open about learning about new interests.</p>
<p>If you’re lonely, try learning something new yourself, so that you have something new to share with other people who are trying it for the first time. Do something you never thought you’d have the time to do.</p>
<p>I had a chat with a guy that I play tennis with and his son is on the other side of the world working as a manager looking to move to a country that is only half as far away. Both mean that they don’t talk very often and then it’s through electronic means. His son is successful and starting out his life but he would like more contact.</p>
<p>His daughter has her own family and she’s not that far away but she’s very busy with her life and contact is infrequent and relatively brief. I can see my son right now in his apartment via video chat. He’s reading something on his screen and he just watched me make a bunch of sandwiches in the kitchen. Sometimes we chat a lot and sometimes we don’t.</p>
<p>Kids do make their own lives and some stay very much in touch and some not so much.</p>
<p>you call him? i honestly never called my D- she surely would be asleep or studying or with a friend etc- sometimes she called late at night or emailed. she now does video chat or instant messaging from abroad. can you try text messaging or email and let him call you when he can? doing new things to chat about on your side are different, too.</p>