Some Fun Things to Do With Your Teen During That “Last Summer”
Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a glass-half-full person. (My mom has referred to me – affectionately – as a “Pollyanna” on more than one occasion.)
The way I see it, the teen years move at a frenetic pace. We always seem to be looking at the next event, the next deadline. Before we know it, we are looking at our adult children, wondering when that happened. Then we wonder if we did enough to prepare them to go out in the world without us. After taking some time to feel sorry for ourselves (in all seriousness, I think it’s important to take time to acknowledge that we are sad, scared, feel helpless), we need to move forward and work through all of this.
As my kids prepared to leave the nest, I had countless lists of things I wanted to teach and do with them. Unfortunately, there was never enough time to get to them all. While the summer after high school graduation is full of preparations, goodbyes, and summer jobs, there is likely enough downtime to fit in some fun bonding activities. Here are just a few ideas to get started:
Cook together
Make spaghetti sauce or brownies from scratch. Dig out Grandma’s recipes or search Pinterest for something new. (I have tons of recipes pinned that I hope to make, someday.) Pick a new cuisine or cooking method you haven’t tried before. Challenge each other to come up with the best dish you can create using only items in the pantry.
Explore family history
Call grandparents and ask about their childhood. Dig out old yearbooks and photo albums and laugh at old hairstyles and fashions. Use websites to learn new things about ancestors (some websites are free and many paid ones have free trials).
Fix something
Most households have small projects that always seem to be put off and/or mending piles that get forgotten. Tackle them now, with your teens. Let them do some (or even all) of the work. It will give them the confidence to tackle similar projects when they are on their own.
Create something
Pull out the art supplies. Select a particular object or scene for the other to draw or paint, or work on the same image, each with your own twist. Try drawing with your eyes closed or with your non-dominant hand.
Plan/plant a garden
If you have a yard with space for a vegetable garden, in many areas, plan and plant a garden. In some climates, you might be able to put seeds in the ground in the spring; in others you can start seeds indoors.
Plan a trip
Travel is an amazing way to learn and expand your worldview. Look into possible options. Explore methods of travel, places to stay, things to see and do. Provide a budget and see what impact traveling on different dates may have on costs.
Ask them to teach YOU something
As parents, it’s easy to forget that our kids are part of a bigger outside world and have learned things without us. Ask them to help make a task easier for you or teach you one of the latest dance moves. Over the years, my kids have taught me to use Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs, SnapChat, Instagram, the TV remotes (honestly, why are there so many buttons?), and have introduced me to some terrific music and fun activities I probably wouldn’t have tried on my own.
Whatever you do, remember that the “last summer” concept isn’t real. While, yes, some of our kids will be moving out permanently and “home” may soon be more a place to visit, most of us will be seeing our “new adults” very soon (and perhaps even more frequently than we expect).
[photo: a collection of remotes, and yes, we apparently do need all of these]
