Sigh. Another lonely weekend for my teen

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 14 year old son texted about 10 different people to hang out today....all of them are "busy." The one friend that was available is now over an hour late to their planned meet up time. So sad and frustrated for my kid.

Your kid is going to have a hard time with a Tuesday play date at 14. Most kids have activities after school. That’s why they are busy. Or maybe they watch siblings or do homework.

It's a shame because kids, most kids anyway, are too busy. Parents value extracurriculars and homework, being super busy, essentially, over kids having free time and unstructured time to just be kids.

Well at least their kids aren’t sad, alone, and bored.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 14 year old son texted about 10 different people to hang out today....all of them are "busy." The one friend that was available is now over an hour late to their planned meet up time. So sad and frustrated for my kid.

Your kid is going to have a hard time with a Tuesday play date at 14. Most kids have activities after school. That’s why they are busy. Or maybe they watch siblings or do homework.

MCPS kids didn’t have school today

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 14 year old son texted about 10 different people to hang out today....all of them are "busy." The one friend that was available is now over an hour late to their planned meet up time. So sad and frustrated for my kid.

Your kid is going to have a hard time with a Tuesday play date at 14. Most kids have activities after school. That’s why they are busy. Or maybe they watch siblings or do homework.

MCPS kids didn’t have school today

Why wait until the last second then? People make plans. My brother took his family out of town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 14 year old son texted about 10 different people to hang out today....all of them are "busy." The one friend that was available is now over an hour late to their planned meet up time. So sad and frustrated for my kid.

Your kid is going to have a hard time with a Tuesday play date at 14. Most kids have activities after school. That’s why they are busy. Or maybe they watch siblings or do homework.

It's a shame because kids, most kids anyway, are too busy. Parents value extracurriculars and homework, being super busy, essentially, over kids having free time and unstructured time to just be kids.

Well at least their kids aren’t sad, alone, and bored.

They aren’t alone anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 14 year old son texted about 10 different people to hang out today....all of them are "busy." The one friend that was available is now over an hour late to their planned meet up time. So sad and frustrated for my kid.

Your kid is going to have a hard time with a Tuesday play date at 14. Most kids have activities after school. That’s why they are busy. Or maybe they watch siblings or do homework.

It's a shame because kids, most kids anyway, are too busy. Parents value extracurriculars and homework, being super busy, essentially, over kids having free time and unstructured time to just be kids.

Well at least their kids aren’t sad, alone, and bored.

They aren’t alone anyway.

Better than the alternative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 14 year old son texted about 10 different people to hang out today....all of them are "busy." The one friend that was available is now over an hour late to their planned meet up time. So sad and frustrated for my kid.

Your kid is going to have a hard time with a Tuesday play date at 14. Most kids have activities after school. That’s why they are busy. Or maybe they watch siblings or do homework.

MCPS kids didn’t have school today

Why wait until the last second then? People make plans. My brother took his family out of town.

My kid was out of town until Mon night and was hoping to hang with friends today. He’s sad bc he feels like people are blowing him off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here with an update: Tiny, tiny progress three years later. My now 16 year old has met up with one or two other kids for weekend lunches a couple of times per month since school started. These other kids do not go to his large public HS but he knows them through sports. It has been a long, sad road but I am grateful that he has had some social outlet these last few months. He still spends weekend evenings at home but at least has had some social contact outside of school. Baby steps and fingers crossed!

Thank you for the update, and I’m glad your son is doing a bit better. Hopefully he knows he’s not alone in dealing with young-male loneliness. It really is an epidemic sadly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 14 year old son texted about 10 different people to hang out today....all of them are "busy." The one friend that was available is now over an hour late to their planned meet up time. So sad and frustrated for my kid.

Your kid is going to have a hard time with a Tuesday play date at 14. Most kids have activities after school. That’s why they are busy. Or maybe they watch siblings or do homework.

MCPS kids didn’t have school today

Why wait until the last second then? People make plans. My brother took his family out of town.

My kid was out of town until Mon night and was hoping to hang with friends today. He’s sad bc he feels like people are blowing him off.

There is no winning for the kid without a friend group or solid best friend.

When they try and make plans to early, plans are broken because a better offer comes along at the last minute. Or, no one will commit because they are waiting for a better offer. Lots of times kids respond uncommitted or say something came up only to learn they are doing things with other friends.

[Anonymous]

Friend group is great but can take time to find the right ones. Just cuz teen is home doesn’t mean they have to be lonely or bored. Lots of stuff to do around here you can do as a family. Or watch a movie together, cook something new together, play a game, etc. my kids are not out partying with friends every weekend. They like hanging out with each other and with us parents or extended family. Plus they’re in activities that keep them busy also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Friend group is great but can take time to find the right ones. Just cuz teen is home doesn’t mean they have to be lonely or bored. Lots of stuff to do around here you can do as a family. Or watch a movie together, cook something new together, play a game, etc. my kids are not out partying with friends every weekend. They like hanging out with each other and with us parents or extended family. Plus they’re in activities that keep them busy also.

True but so hard on the kid that wants friends their own age.

[Anonymous]

If you have boys who struggle connecting with a boy group, encourage them to befriend girls. Girls really are better initiators and planners. Also certain boys seem to not fit into the big boy groups for some reason, and often will get along better with girls (and no not always bc they are gay …sometimes just more talkative sensitive or not athletic/cocky as teen boys tend to value at this age)

[Anonymous]

It’s tough, I’ve noticed we are really having to push our tween son to initiate social activities from Halloween to meeting at the park. Our daughter was doing these things at a much younger age.

I hope things improve for your son. It hurts my heart when kids feel alone. I agree with looking toward outside activities/friend groups as well as girls.