It's all fun and games until someone enters puberty.
Summer adventures are easy when children are young. As long as you work around naptime, all you need is a diaper bag packed with extra snacks and you're ready for adventures. The park is so wonderful that they never want to leave. The zoo is as exciting as going on safari. Rain is just an extra toy. Everything is fun, fun, fun. And then it happens. Your happy, smiling, giggle monster becomes a teenager. A silly one minute and sullen the next minute teenager. A teenager who thinks that summer vacation means sleeping until noon followed by being chauffeured around with friends every evening. A teenager who weeps at being forced to join the family on an outing when she wanted to be with her boyfriend instead. A teenager who thinks the zoo is bo-o-o-ring.
There are a few tricks to having happy teens. Tricks that are worth the effort, because happy teens = happy moms. The easiest way to ensure teen happiness is to include one of their friends on outings. What was "baby stuff" is suddenly fun when you have a friend along to be immature with you. If I could, I would have each of the teens' invite a friend to live with us for the entire summer. Groups of teens are funny. Other ways to leverage the odds against cranky teens include letting them sleep late and always having popcorn in the pantry. Never underestimate the value of bribes for teenagers. Remember the words, "If you _____, then I will drive you to _____." Through much trial and error, we have discovered one activity that pleases our entire family, from the preschooler to the college student. Everyone loves going to the drive-in. Of course, they love it more if they have a friend along.
What awesome and practical advice! I am totally putting that tip in my back pocket for when my kids get older.
Posted by: Lynnie | May 16, 2009 at 06:33 AM
Honestly I DREAD the teenage years. Mainly because I remember how I was at that age and... urgh, frightening! I'm going to file away your advice for future reference! :)
Posted by: bananas | May 16, 2009 at 13:53 PM
what do you consider a "teen"? my 10-year-old is showing signs of teenage crankiness. i'm hoping this means that when he hits 13 or so, he'll have gotten past the "too boring" stage?! love the advice. where do u live that you have drive-ins? cool.
Posted by: carolyn | May 18, 2009 at 10:03 AM
FUNNY!
When my daughter was in the throes of teenage angst, and I could hear her trundling down the stairs after waking around noonish, I would turn to my wife and say, "what do you think the weather will be like today?" It was a not-so-thinly-veiled reference to the unpredictable moods of the adolescent animal.
Posted by: Nick Friedman | May 18, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Carolyn - You just have a gifted tween on your hands. He won't be better at 13, but you'll have more experience at coping with him. Tennessee has several drive-ins, but they will gone in a few years because of light pollution. Find your nearest drive in at: http://www.driveintheater.com/drivlist.htm
Teens aren't scary. Teens are easier than toddlers. No diapers. ;-)
Posted by: cathymccaughan | May 18, 2009 at 22:05 PM
I'm kind of dreading the teen years, too. I'll definitely have to remember the popcorn-in-the-pantry trick. :)
Posted by: Katrina @ Callapidder Days | May 21, 2009 at 19:11 PM