Things for freshmen boys to do while parents hang out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thai so what teens do. Sit around on phones or on video games. Why push it?

That may be all teens want to do, which I personally don't understand, but I don't think you should let them.

[Anonymous]

I have a freshman son. We had a gathering a few months ago where I invited some families with kids my son’s age. It was super awkward. The boys who didn’t know others were on their phones the whole time and they left early.

Another time a new friend invited us over and I brought my 14yo son. There was a boy from his school. He has been in my son’s class in elementary. The mom and I have been room parents together and volunteered at school. Boys did not talk at all. They don’t hang out at school. The other boy went home early and my husband ended up leaving with my son early as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a freshman son. We had a gathering a few months ago where I invited some families with kids my son’s age. It was super awkward. The boys who didn’t know others were on their phones the whole time and they left early.

Another time a new friend invited us over and I brought my 14yo son. There was a boy from his school. He has been in my son’s class in elementary. The mom and I have been room parents together and volunteered at school. Boys did not talk at all. They don’t hang out at school. The other boy went home early and my husband ended up leaving with my son early as well.

It's kind of sad to me that the kids weren't able to at least try to get to know one another and try to find something fun to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a freshman son. We had a gathering a few months ago where I invited some families with kids my son’s age. It was super awkward. The boys who didn’t know others were on their phones the whole time and they left early.

Another time a new friend invited us over and I brought my 14yo son. There was a boy from his school. He has been in my son’s class in elementary. The mom and I have been room parents together and volunteered at school. Boys did not talk at all. They don’t hang out at school. The other boy went home early and my husband ended up leaving with my son early as well.

It's kind of sad to me that the kids weren't able to at least try to get to know one another and try to find something fun to do.

Why? At 14 you know who
you want to hang out with and who you don’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thai so what teens do. Sit around on phones or on video games. Why push it?

That may be all teens want to do, which I personally don't understand, but I don't think you should let them.

Ok grandma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is too old (the kids) to be inviting entire families. Very awkward for them.

Invite the couples and then the kids who want to make plans while you have plans will probably make plans.

If the kids are already friends it's not a problem. Even if they don't know each other well, it's a great way for them to get to know each other

All true, but still awkward and most kids this age won’t come. Even my 13 yo would stay home and I would be okay with it.

Don’t plan anything. The only thing that would make it more awkward is activities planned by mom. Put them in the basement and it’s up to them if they watch tv, play video games or sit silently on their phones.

[Anonymous]

You’re going to need to reciprocate a family at a time (with or without kids depending on the dynamics with your kid). If all of these people went out of their way to thank you, you don’t reciprocate by making them waste their Saturday night attending an awkward as hell group dinner at your house.