#parenting-teens

#parenting-teens

When I was pregnant with my first baby, I'd see moms wearing jewelry with their kids' initials or birthstones and dream of the day I'd get my own. When my kids were in preschool, I'd make a holiday wish list of things I thought would help me up my mom game, like a stand mixer or a fancy sewing machine. My elementary-aged kids may have wanted the latest video game or baby doll, but I asked for spa gift certificates and expensive new boots.

I had assumed they would be aghast at the impunity of their school administrators in taking the phones away. Instead, a majority of the teens that my colleagues and I have spoken to seem to welcome the break from their phones. There is less pressure to respond to social media feeds or to constantly check their texts. They also report that their school cafeteria has become a popular spot to hang out and chat with friends.

My daughter is 19 and I still feel like time went too fast. It's her last year at home before she moves away and starts her own adult life. Letting go of her while staying connected is my new challenge. I make her 'practice' being an adult. It's made me realise the importance of supporting our teens to "practice" adulthood. Even something as simple as ringing up the doctor to book an appointment can be a challenge for some young people. As adults, we take these things for granted. We know the process of booking an appointment and what the receptionist wants us to tell them, but our teens don't. And Gen Z seems particularly allergic to talking on the phone.