Im going to go suggest that my teenager join me for a woodworking class. I’ll report back.

No, my son dumped me when he hit puberty. He’s 15 and doesn’t want to be seen hanging out with his mom in any capacity. We of course do things as a family (but he’d still rather be with friends). We used to watch all kinds of shows together (while dad was off watching sports), but now he watches them alone. It sucks! I can’t even imagine a “fun” activity he’d want to do alone with me.

Anonymous wrote:I too resorted to watching TV series with my son. Not a fan of TV but no regrets for spending my time with my son.

Anything good? My son watches the Simpsons and Family Guy and NFL together. M

He’ll doing pretty much everything except go shopping. We’ve gone to see speakers at the local colleges, gone to plays, outdoor Shakespeare, rock concerts. All the things I wanted to do. His sisters are much younger so it was fun for just me and him. He’s very easy going. I used to play video games with him when he was little but they got too sophisticated for me pretty quickly. He’ll go to football games with my husband, so glad I don’t have to. But he will go places he’s not interested in just to make me happy and it’s usually a good time.

Yes, both my teens love hanging out with me 1:1 outside the home! Most days of the week in fact. It’s so fun to have a closeness with them. They also hang out with friends regularly, play on sports teams, get straight As

Anonymous wrote:Same for my DD and DS. I can occasionally convince DS to go hiking or out for lunch, but I have to basically guilt him into agreeing. He'd rather wear rags than go shopping with me, subsist on canned goods than go buy groceries (in worst case, he'd rather go himself).

And it's not just me, he doesn't want to hang out with Dad either. I can't even get him to watch a movie with me. He'd rather watch his own show or go to movies with friends.

My son will not shop. I order everything online... easy.

DD yes, DS no. But he doesn't like to leave the house at all, for the most part.

Movies or going out to eat are always winners at our house.

Yes, and they were still sometimes reaching out to hold my hand while out walking 'round the shops, as late as junior year in HS.

But like a PP, my son would rather be given my credit card and a list than go grocery shopping with me. Not bc he buys himself stuff, he just likes to do things independently.

I too resorted to watching TV series with my son. Not a fan of TV but no regrets for spending my time with my son.

Hey OP, I’m one of the PP and I watched Breaking Bad with my son a while ago. It’s really good. He had already seen it and I asked him if he had any series to suggest and he said that one i suggested we watch it together so we did that for a while in the evenings. Just a suggestion if he’s an older teen. It’s a bit old and about drugs and murder, but order a pizza and watch anything. It doesn’t have to be that one.

I found that was nice because an episode was also less of a time commitment for him, we laughed and talked and then had things to discuss during the week/day.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, mine do. They actually enjoy shoppering, as they call it. And it’s kind of expected they go and help since I’m getting food for them….but they also like to hang out one on one or as a family. We have fun together. Family jokes and special words etc.

Kewl

DS 15 is always up for chick fila and ice cream. I just drive to the farther location so we have time together in the car.

He's recently gotten into woodworking so we are taking a class together. But no--running errands, like Target or the grocery store, no thank you. Occasionally, he'll walk the dog with me.

"Playing with some balls?" "Visit an art studio?"

This tells me you have no idea what teenage boys actually like to do. He is neither 7 nor 35, he's a teenager. No wonder he declines.

Same for my DD and DS. I can occasionally convince DS to go hiking or out for lunch, but I have to basically guilt him into agreeing. He'd rather wear rags than go shopping with me, subsist on canned goods than go buy groceries (in worst case, he'd rather go himself).

And it's not just me, he doesn't want to hang out with Dad either. I can't even get him to watch a movie with me. He'd rather watch his own show or go to movies with friends.