As the relationship progresses, it will be important to solidify the sense of closeness and trust. This is best achieved by doing things together that are mutually enjoyable, foster a sense of attachment, and build shared memories. You may even go through a sort of “honeymoon” period as many relationships do when two people are growing closer.
[faq category=87 template=accordion]Each relationship progresses at its own pace; it may sometimes feel that you are going back a step for every two steps you move forward. And sometimes you will simply not see any external sign that your mentee is growing close to and being positively influenced by you. If you are feeling that you are not connecting at this stage, it is important to speak with your program coordinator.
Don’t feel pressured to get your mentee to open up, but rather do things together around shared interests that naturally lead to opportunities for conversation.
By now you should have a regular schedule for getting together, although the mentee may still occasionally be unreliable. As in the previous stage, mentor consistency, reliability, and persistence will help carry the relationship through any rough spots that may occur.
You can begin to suggest things that will expand your mentee’s range of experiences, such as going to a museum, but continue to let your mentee make decisions about how you spend time together. If you are mentoring in a school or other setting where some of the activities you do together are already defined, try to expand on these with other activities whose sole purpose is having fun. Never underestimate the power of having fun together.