Do your teens like to spend time together? With you and with each other? Just hanging out? I feel immensely lucky that mine seem to 😉.

One of our favourite ‘downtime’ things to do together is watch TV and go to movies together. The fact that I LOVE teen fiction and crazy reality shows helps me here. I really DO enjoy them.

I’m a firm believer that being in “their” world and consuming “their” media is a great way to stay connected. It has allowed me over the years to ask questions and start conversations that have gotten me insight into “their” world.

Recently we went to see the feature film ‘Mama Mia! Here We Go Again’, watched ‘To all the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ and last night we started the new series THE 100. It’s about a group of 100 teenagers, mostly delinquents, who get sent back to earth hundreds of years after a nuclear disaster that destroyed all mankind. They are sent from the adults as test subjects to see if the earth is inhabitable. No supplies, nothing. Think ‘Lord of the Flies’ version 2018. We are only 2 episodes in but we think it is a winner.

These films and shows have allowed me to have little (&big) chats about different things we see on the screen...and relate them to our lives. Life lessons and philosophies to discuss and insight into their own thoughts on things. It also lets me share my thoughts with them and gives them insight into my teenage self.

If I didn’t take these opportunity to hang out in their space I would be so much more ‘out of it’ with regards to where they are at. I wouldn’t ‘have a clue’ so to speak.

I really encourage you to watch their shows, their movies, read their books. It has created connection. conversations, understanding, and a mutual respect between us for that which they are going through and that which I went through as teens.