Elia, my cleaning lady, came in today in tears again. Her 14-year-old daughter, Julianna, has shut down and won't talk to her. She said yesterday she came home from school in tears and went to her room sobbing. Every time Elia tried to find out what was wrong, she replied, "Nothing." Elia said that she's lived her whole life for her daughter and this is just killing her. I asked if there was anyone in the family that Julianna might talk to and she said her sister-in-law. Julianna is still hell bent on finding her father in Mexico (as she only told the sister-in-law), so I suggested that Elia take her to visit her aunt without Elia around. Maybe she'll talk to someone else. But then again, she might not.  All I could really add is that this isn't unusual for a girl her age, but I'm praying that it's not something serious.

When I suggested that if all else fails, I could try talking to her and at that, Elia's eyes brightened. I'm pretty sure that if that works, there will have to be some time to build up trust. The good news is that it's summer and Joanna is out of school, so I think it's worth a try. But hopefully, plan A will be successful. If not... I'm up to bat.