General apathy

[Anonymous]

Just wondering how common this is. Have a lovely DD who is bright, happy and smart but can spend days on end doing nothing. And I mean literally nothing except watching stupid shows and texting. It seems a little silly to worry because there are no obvious problems. But how can a teenager have zero interests and hobbies. She goes out with friends and does all the mandatory work (I.e. For school and her one extracurricular) but no motivation to do anything outside of it.
Is there anything that can be done? Is it common? Or should we just let her be?

[Anonymous]

Does there need to be "anything that can be done"?

She sounds fine to me. I was similar. Now I'm a gainfully employed college graduate who's still happy enough being generally an introverted homebody with a fairly relaxed lifestyle when I have no pressing obligations.

If you don't see any obvious issues, I wouldn't push. Maybe just casually ask her if there's anything she's been interested in getting involved in and if there is see about making that happen.

Otherwise, if she's getting the necessities done and seems content, I'd let her free time be hers to handle.

[Anonymous]

I have four kids, and don't allow that. My kids aren't allowed to watch tv until they've been accepted to college. If I think they've been staring at the phone too long, I simply take it away. They have a rule that they have to do something for their body and something for their mind on a regular basis. They have to volunteer regularly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have four kids, and don't allow that. My kids aren't allowed to watch tv until they've been accepted to college. If I think they've been staring at the phone too long, I simply take it away. They have a rule that they have to do something for their body and something for their mind on a regular basis. They have to volunteer regularly.

This is crazy. I just had a really good thought-provoking discussion about national politics with my 9 year old after we watched the Repub presidential debate together. I get selective TV watching, but that's just insane.

[Anonymous]

In general, I would limit screen time both big and little (TV & phones). If she says she's bored, give her a chore to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just wondering how common this is. Have a lovely DD who is bright, happy and smart but can spend days on end doing nothing. And I mean literally nothing except watching stupid shows and texting. It seems a little silly to worry because there are no obvious problems. But how can a teenager have zero interests and hobbies. She goes out with friends and does all the mandatory work (I.e. For school and her one extracurricular) but no motivation to do anything outside of it.
Is there anything that can be done? Is it common? Or should we just let her be?

I know that teen behavior drives us parents nut, but isn't what you describe similar to what you did as a teen? I remember spending hours upon hours watching MTV. All day and night. Every day and night. Then I started high school and got more involved with friends and work.

[Anonymous]

http://www.theonion.com/video/brain-dead-teen-only-capable-of-rolling-eyes-and-t-27225

[Anonymous]

Completely normal. (Though it drives me crazy. I assume I was the same way as a teen).