Anonymous wrote:What hobbies do they like? You could learn to play family-friendly video games with them, like Stardew Valley or Mario Kart.

NP. My kid is 13. He just started asking DH and me to play Mario party again. So fun.

Hotel sleepover. Do face masks and watch romcoms.

I would go the Smithsonian museums and fun local trips like Shenandoah and Annapolis. -!; yes baking and cooking together is a great idea.

I have a 15yo teenager who still likes spending time with me. Most of it is pretty mundane, but this is the stuff memories are made of. We watch TV together or YouTube together, play video games, go out to bookstores, go for long walks, go out for Starbucks or boba, shop for clothes. At least once a week we go out to dinner as a family or get takeout and watch a movie. Post covid, we try to make sure to take family trips from our bucket list instead of waiting for later.

whatever you do, take pictures of you having fun together because if it stops you'll want to look back on them!

My teens still like hanging out with me! I feel very fortunate.

We enjoy going out for Boba/ice cream and thrift stores and antique stores. The bulk of our shared time is watching a show together. Short ones like Good Place and Brooklyn 99, because you can easily fit it in to a busy life.

It's nice you are thinking ahead. I would do everything you've listed. Cook more together, do errands together, plan a trip to a fun place she has dreamed of going. Mine was that age during covid and being in health care working double or triplethe amount I usually work so we missed that period.

Anonymous wrote:Right now, my tween still enjoys spending time with me. I hear this phase will end in a few years. What should we make sure to do now? An extra trip? More errands and cooking? If your kids are now teens, looking back, would you have done anything differently during the tween years?

I've had such vastly different experiences with my girls. One 20, who never wanted anything to do with me most of her HS years and still kinda doesn't, and a 15 year old who has been sweet and caring since always and still is. I don't think this phase has to be all that bad, but lots of it is way beyond our control and is just who are kids are growing up to be. Just keep going, give them independence when it seems like they can handle it or maybe a tad earlier than that, keep repeating that you love them, try to have some sort of family dinner most nights, take them out for random ice cream after dinner nights, and continue to show them love. You'll do fine.

Just saying, I skipped the not liking my parents stage. I loved going on trips and out to breakfast on weekends (although sometimes breakfast was at 1 pm because teenager) all through middle and high school. My husband never had that stage either, but both of us had siblings who made up for it.

I have a 9-year-old and am hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. We play board games and we’re going to take him to the movies a few times over the summer.

My friend had another baby

We are doing lots of concerts and theatre.

Depends what you both like doing.
Mine just turned 12 and it’s like a rollercoaster right now. I try and keep a connection by playing UNO other other card games with her, and we hike together sometimes with our dog. I also stil read at bedtime most nights.

We're doing road trips like state lines will become the Berlin Wall in two years.

What hobbies do they like? You could learn to play family-friendly video games with them, like Stardew Valley or Mario Kart.

Right now, my tween still enjoys spending time with me. I hear this phase will end in a few years. What should we make sure to do now? An extra trip? More errands and cooking? If you’re kids are now teens, looking back, would you have done anything differently during the tween years?