How often does your 14-15 year old see friends

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel so terrible sad for this generation of kids.

I’m an immigrant. When I was a teenager we lived in an 8 million city. Me and all the other teenagers roamed the city going to cafes, bars, restaurants, clubs, people’s parties in apartments, country clubs.

We didn’t have much money, but taxis were cheap and friends had cars. I felt safe walking around alone at night.

I was a shy introvert , but I saw my friends practically every day. We had a blast.

When I came to America years ago and to this day I think it’s an incredibly lonely society with everyone tucked away in their suburban homes. Kids are lonely too. My child sees friends once a month and they can’t just pick up and go, I have to drive them.

Elderly are lonely. So many people on anxiety meds and antidepressants. It’s just the way we live here is off.

If you go to France you will see streets full of people socialising over dinners and in parks. American streets are so empty.

?? I live in DC. My son walks over to his friends’ houses all the time, and they all take the metro and wander around the city. There are so many free things to do around here, especially in the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
?? I live in DC. My son walks over to his friends’ houses all the time, and they all take the metro and wander around the city. There are so many free things to do around here, especially in the summer.

Do they? Do you all let your kids roam DC in their own? And do they go out with their friends every week?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel so terrible sad for this generation of kids.

I’m an immigrant. When I was a teenager we lived in an 8 million city. Me and all the other teenagers roamed the city going to cafes, bars, restaurants, clubs, people’s parties in apartments, country clubs.

We didn’t have much money, but taxis were cheap and friends had cars. I felt safe walking around alone at night.

I was a shy introvert , but I saw my friends practically every day. We had a blast.

When I came to America years ago and to this day I think it’s an incredibly lonely society with everyone tucked away in their suburban homes. Kids are lonely too. My child sees friends once a month and they can’t just pick up and go, I have to drive them.

Elderly are lonely. So many people on anxiety meds and antidepressants. It’s just the way we live here is off.

If you go to France you will see streets full of people socialising over dinners and in parks. American streets are so empty.

American born and raised. I agree 100%. I feel such a loss for my kids, though they don't seem to know the difference.

My kids and all of their friends socialize regularly. I think a lot of parents with kids who don’t, tell themselves that “things have changed” so they don’t have to face the fact that there is something maybe lacking in their kids social skills. Things aren’t like when we were kids but it’s not drastically different. I think some kids just have poor social skills and inability to follow through. They might make it happen later in college or they might just be perpetual duds in front of a screen, but persisting in thinking this is normal is probably not helping.

[Anonymous]

I find it hard to believe that so many kids are lacking social skills.

In my adolescence 90% of kids were socializing outside of school in practically daily basis.

In DC’s school and our friends circles I know for sure the majority are lucky to see their friends outside of school monthly.

[Anonymous]

DD has two BFFs. They typically walk home from school together. Maybe hang out for a bit once a week after school and get together once on the weekend. She might hang out with a larger group, mostly kids from band, once a month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel so terrible sad for this generation of kids.

I’m an immigrant. When I was a teenager we lived in an 8 million city. Me and all the other teenagers roamed the city going to cafes, bars, restaurants, clubs, people’s parties in apartments, country clubs.

We didn’t have much money, but taxis were cheap and friends had cars. I felt safe walking around alone at night.

I was a shy introvert , but I saw my friends practically every day. We had a blast.

When I came to America years ago and to this day I think it’s an incredibly lonely society with everyone tucked away in their suburban homes. Kids are lonely too. My child sees friends once a month and they can’t just pick up and go, I have to drive them.

Elderly are lonely. So many people on anxiety meds and antidepressants. It’s just the way we live here is off.

If you go to France you will see streets full of people socialising over dinners and in parks. American streets are so empty.

I agree. We just got back from Europe and the cities were so vibrant compared to DC, it was striking! So many young people picnicking in parks, walking around, chatting in cafes, biking (and older people too). I have never seen anything like it here even close to that degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel so terrible sad for this generation of kids.

I’m an immigrant. When I was a teenager we lived in an 8 million city. Me and all the other teenagers roamed the city going to cafes, bars, restaurants, clubs, people’s parties in apartments, country clubs.

We didn’t have much money, but taxis were cheap and friends had cars. I felt safe walking around alone at night.

I was a shy introvert , but I saw my friends practically every day. We had a blast.

When I came to America years ago and to this day I think it’s an incredibly lonely society with everyone tucked away in their suburban homes. Kids are lonely too. My child sees friends once a month and they can’t just pick up and go, I have to drive them.

Elderly are lonely. So many people on anxiety meds and antidepressants. It’s just the way we live here is off.

If you go to France you will see streets full of people socialising over dinners and in parks. American streets are so empty.

American born and raised. I agree 100%. I feel such a loss for my kids, though they don't seem to know the difference.

My kids and all of their friends socialize regularly. I think a lot of parents with kids who don’t, tell themselves that “things have changed” so they don’t have to face the fact that there is something maybe lacking in their kids social skills. Things aren’t like when we were kids but it’s not drastically different. I think some kids just have poor social skills and inability to follow through. They might make it happen later in college or they might just be perpetual duds in front of a screen, but persisting in thinking this is normal is probably not helping.

I think you're generalizing to suit your narrative about what the home body kids are doing v. the kids who are hanging out a lot with friends. The kids at home might be reading or doing other valuable things and the kids out and about a lot might be getting into trouble for all you know. The point is, one lifestyle isn't inherently better as a default.

[Anonymous]

Parents now a days are just to afraid to let their kids out and have any freedom, especially teens. Ppl freak out when they see teens out socializing in person jumping to conclusions that they're up to no good.

[Anonymous]

My teen stepsons barely socialize. Maybe a few times a year. They seem to really like socializing when they do get invited out, they come home happy. But they don't initiate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My teen stepsons barely socialize. Maybe a few times a year. They seem to really like socializing when they do get invited out, they come home happy. But they don't initiate.

And yes they play video games etc. They sit inside their bedrooms on screens all day. I don't have much say in their upbringing. I would not let this happen if they were my kids. It's sad. I did insist to their dad that they needed to DO something this summer, even if it was just hanging out at the pool! So one has a job and the other is volunteering. That gets them out of their bedrooms part of the day.

[Anonymous]

My rising sophomore never does anything with friends outside school or organized activities. He’s very introverted and gets enough social interaction at school or in activities. Over summer he sees friends at the pool but never initiates it and tastefully plans in advance. He seems well liked when he is with friends. None of his friends live nearby which may contribute to this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel so terrible sad for this generation of kids.

I’m an immigrant. When I was a teenager we lived in an 8 million city. Me and all the other teenagers roamed the city going to cafes, bars, restaurants, clubs, people’s parties in apartments, country clubs.

We didn’t have much money, but taxis were cheap and friends had cars. I felt safe walking around alone at night.

I was a shy introvert , but I saw my friends practically every day. We had a blast.

When I came to America years ago and to this day I think it’s an incredibly lonely society with everyone tucked away in their suburban homes. Kids are lonely too. My child sees friends once a month and they can’t just pick up and go, I have to drive them.

Elderly are lonely. So many people on anxiety meds and antidepressants. It’s just the way we live here is off.

If you go to France you will see streets full of people socialising over dinners and in parks. American streets are so empty.

American born and raised. I agree 100%. I feel such a loss for my kids, though they don't seem to know the difference.

My kids and all of their friends socialize regularly. I think a lot of parents with kids who don’t, tell themselves that “things have changed” so they don’t have to face the fact that there is something maybe lacking in their kids social skills. Things aren’t like when we were kids but it’s not drastically different. I think some kids just have poor social skills and inability to follow through. They might make it happen later in college or they might just be perpetual duds in front of a screen, but persisting in thinking this is normal is probably not helping.

Wow. You sound pleasant. Or maybe they are happy with the level of social interaction they have. Or maybe their parents are trying to help them develop better social skills. Or maybe the kids they know are just a-holes and they decide to rise above the drama and rampant hormones among the obnoxious “popular” kids. (Note: the popular kids are not actually popular and in fact almost universally disliked)

[Anonymous]

Not often, in a lot of outside activities that are time sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel so terrible sad for this generation of kids.

I’m an immigrant. When I was a teenager we lived in an 8 million city. Me and all the other teenagers roamed the city going to cafes, bars, restaurants, clubs, people’s parties in apartments, country clubs.

We didn’t have much money, but taxis were cheap and friends had cars. I felt safe walking around alone at night.

I was a shy introvert , but I saw my friends practically every day. We had a blast.

When I came to America years ago and to this day I think it’s an incredibly lonely society with everyone tucked away in their suburban homes. Kids are lonely too. My child sees friends once a month and they can’t just pick up and go, I have to drive them.

Elderly are lonely. So many people on anxiety meds and antidepressants. It’s just the way we live here is off.

If you go to France you will see streets full of people socialising over dinners and in parks. American streets are so empty.

American born and raised. I agree 100%. I feel such a loss for my kids, though they don't seem to know the difference.

My kids and all of their friends socialize regularly. I think a lot of parents with kids who don’t, tell themselves that “things have changed” so they don’t have to face the fact that there is something maybe lacking in their kids social skills. Things aren’t like when we were kids but it’s not drastically different. I think some kids just have poor social skills and inability to follow through. They might make it happen later in college or they might just be perpetual duds in front of a screen, but persisting in thinking this is normal is probably not helping.

Wow. You sound pleasant. Or maybe they are happy with the level of social interaction they have. Or maybe their parents are trying to help them develop better social skills. Or maybe the kids they know are just a-holes and they decide to rise above the drama and rampant hormones among the obnoxious “popular” kids. (Note: the popular kids are not actually popular and in fact almost universally disliked)

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it hard to believe that so many kids are lacking social skills.

In my adolescence 90% of kids were socializing outside of school in practically daily basis.

In DC’s school and our friends circles I know for sure the majority are lucky to see their friends outside of school monthly.

Yes, that’s why they lack social skills, because they don’t get enough practice.