SUMMER’S END
Fall confuses me. It’s been a love hate relationship for the better part of my life. The end of summer is mentally painful for me! Fall brings me warm Indian summers in Virginia Beach, yet I know barreling in with the fall season are storms that pummel our coastal town while on its heels comes the winter vortex of Arctic winds. (Vortex…Dramatic I know!) My flip flops and bathing suit are traded in for boots, parkas, gloves… Ok, I need to stop as you can see where this is going!
I can lean into fall with some attitude adjustment but have no kind words at all for winter! As for spring, most everyone adores her, except allergy sufferers.
WHEN I WAS A TEEN
Oh no. Not another story about how my generation had it harder than your generation. Far from it. My summers as a teen were magical.
As I entered my late teen years my memories of the freedom were unlike anything I had ever felt. Why?
Friends
Summer Love
NO social media
Those summer nights were pure unstructured downtime. Meeting at the beach after work meant trading our goofy aprons or vests we had to wear at work for bathing suits and flip flops. With towels spread out on the sand we shared pizza, our dreams and most likely a first kiss happened here.
We lived in the moment. Anticipation of that first summer kiss on the beach was indescribable. The mystery of our summer nights and downtime with friends was only for us to know. Our parents could not track our every move by looking at social media photo dumps!
As teens we once had the freedom to be ourselves without the fear that our actions would end up on Social Media
That was true teenage freedom
It’s a time that can never be replicated
MEMORY LANE
So are you drifting back in time to your own teenage summers? Do you remember the feeling of freedom you had back then? Did you succumb to the modern day peer pressure to post your life on social media or did you experience the freedom to be yourself without fear of your actions being posted on social media?
Our teens are losing the freedom to be themselves without the influence of social media. We need to help them find a balance.
5 REASONS WHY TEENS NEED TO BE OUTSIDE & OFF PHONES
- Relieves Stress
- Strengthens Immunity
- Sharpens Focus & Concentration
- Helps Develop a Healthier Diet
- Calms the Mind
PARENTS NEED A PARTNER
Being a parent of a teen can be hard! Make Mother nature your forever partner. She never talks back, never disagrees with you, loves all ages, and she calms us all down without a copay or a pill.
So parents, land your helicopter, set the example and put down your phone.
Walk outside “phoneless” and invite your teen to join you!
Teens need some privacy with their friends in a safe place like,
backyard fire pit
bike ride with friends
hike with friends
hanging with friends at the local fall festivals.
Just get them outside!
To help your teen experience what freedom feels like without the pressures of social media, partner up with Mother Nature. Being outside with friends and no phones allows your teen the true freedom to just be their goofy, silly and sometimes serious teenage self
We can’t let this teenage freedom die.
Spend some simple time with a teen – OUTSIDE
Much Love
Conni
Founder of Simple Teen Life
Me in my corner & always outside, but now on SM by choice!
