What does your husband do to bond with your teen?

My kids have both a dad and a step dad.

The almost 14 yr old talks about writing and books a lot with her stepdad. She goes to him for help with any writing assignments she has. He taught her that comedy (stand-up) is writing, music is writing, so they watch a lot of stand-up comedy together.

DD's dad has given her piano lessons since she was 3. He also teaches her how to cook Italian and speak the language.

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07/17/2018 18:08

Subject: What does your husband do to bond with your teen?

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Anonymous

Grill - both

Watch movies I would find inappropriate but not enough to outright ban - DS only. DD isn’t interested.

Take them out to lunch one on one. Both DS and DD like this the best.

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07/17/2018 18:23

Subject: What does your husband do to bond with your teen?

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Anonymous

14 year old son they bond and over golf and making fun of me ! ?

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07/17/2018 18:46

Subject: What does your husband do to bond with your teen?

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Anonymous

I don't understand the question. I raised them from birth, I'm already fully bonded with them.

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07/17/2018 18:53

Subject: What does your husband do to bond with your teen?

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Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the question. I raised them from birth, I'm already fully bonded with them.

Oh for goodness sake. It means what kinds of things do you do for fun with your teen. Teen bonding with their parent is not a given at all. It's a tough time for everyone, with a lot going on!

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07/17/2018 18:54

Subject: What does your husband do to bond with your teen?

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Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the question. I raised them from birth, I'm already fully bonded with them.

Yay you. Perfect parent. YOU MUST BE SO PROUD!!

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07/17/2018 18:56

Subject: Re:What does your husband do to bond with your teen?

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Anonymous

15 girl - movies, partners in crime & adventure buddies (just hop in the car and go somewhere, try out a new restaurant, visit a park), they share a love of art, he listens to her, he's more permissive than I am and supports her (and helps her argue her point without being disrespectful to me or contradicting me) when she thinks I'm being too restrictive. He also goes to her games and performances, checks in with her about school and friends, but I think more of the bonding happens outside of that stuff.

My husband was one of those guys who never changed a diaper. He was legitimately terrible with her when she was a baby because he had no idea what to do so just avoided taking care of her. But once she could talk and was potty trained, he was there for her and he's been my model for navigating the path from protective-parent to supportive-parent as she's become a mature, responsible teen.

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07/17/2018 19:07

Subject: What does your husband do to bond with your teen?

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Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the question. I raised them from birth, I'm already fully bonded with them.

Don't be a smarty pants.

Clearly you take steps to insure that bond remains strong. I hope you enjoy things with each of them that are special to each of them.

What are those things?

Do you need me to spell it out any clearer than that?

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07/17/2018 19:11

Subject: What does your husband do to bond with your teen?

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Anonymous

We three bond over science fiction and go to movies together.

My husband and son share a passion for a certain niche sport.

To the poster who doesn't quite understand the question...

* when my boy was young, he and his dad bonded over going for walks and yelling "truck!"

* when my boy was older, his dad coached some teams and taught him some sports.

* when he was still older, the two started attending tournaments together.

Science fiction remains constant, but the movies are more sophisticated now (thank God)

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07/17/2018 20:40

Subject: Re:What does your husband do to bond with your teen?

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Anonymous

Girl 15

He changed diapers, fed her, bathed her, read to her, did sick days, doctor appointments, etc as much as me. On maternity leave, he did overnight duty on Friday and Saturday so I could get two nights of uninterrupted sleep every week.

When she was a preschooler and an elementary schooler, she was his assistant for all household chores. They built a lot of our basement entertainment center together. They are power washing pros.

His bedtime routine was way better than mine, at least until we started reading chapter books.

He cooked breakfast and drove the school run through elementary school. Now they stop at Starbucks daily. She orders for them on the app.

They now talk about exercise and workouts together as well as exercising together. I bought him a gift card for solidcore and told him it was for the two of them to try out a couple of classes. I really want him to stop focusing on murderously heavy lifting. He is very fit and in great shape, but getting older and keeps injuring himself. Trying to show him different ways of getting a workout that maintains strength and function.

He has driven with her daily since she got her permit.

To the poster who said that her son and husband bond by making fun of her - #metoo - and frankly they are hilarious

They love fandoms (different ones) but Comic Con is a big event every year.

But basically, pretty much anything she wants to do, he is game for. He leaves things like bathing suit shopping and dress shopping to me, but if she needs shoes or shorts or something, you will find him somewhere in the mall holding all the shopping bags and asking her if she wants a pretzel or Cold Stone.