You start to feel your age when you observe the current generation of kids with a mix of awe and disbelief. As a parent of preteens, I often find myself alternating between being impressed by their achievements and anxious about them. One moment, I’m reminding them to wear clean socks, and the next, I’m watching them create an entire PowerPoint presentation in less time than it takes me to brew coffee. It’s clear I’m in that stage of parenting where I can’t help but marvel at how much has changed since my own childhood.
Here are some amusing observations I’ve made lately (and yes, I could definitely use a nap!):
- When Did 13-Year-Olds Turn Into Models? Scrolling through my social media feed in early September, I mistook it for Fashion Week instead of the start of a new school year. Is that Kate Upton and Gisele’s doppelgangers at the bus stop? Nope, just some middle schoolers heading to eighth grade looking runway-ready. With help from products like Proactiv and stylish stores like Hollister, the awkward teenage years seem to be fading away. However, the awkwardness has to land somewhere—like on us moms who are now shopping with these trendsetting kids. But hey, those moments of awkwardness help build character, right?
- The Most Active Couch Potatoes Ever? While experts claim this generation is facing obesity and poor fitness levels, I’ve seen 11-year-olds zoom past me in 5Ks like they’re training for the Olympics. Many of them juggle multiple sports year-round, with some running six-minute miles at just 9 years old. When I was that age, my idea of exercise was playing Kick the Can for half an hour. Kudos to these little superstars!
- Likes vs. Reality It’s amusing how they “like” everything online yet find real-life experiences less than thrilling. They adore that beach photo on Instagram but complain that the sand is too gritty when they’re actually there. The same goes for trees and football fields—real life just doesn’t measure up.
- The Great Disconnect Kids in the same room often ignore each other in favor of their phones, yet the minute they’re apart, they desperately try to connect through texts and FaceTime. It’s like they need to see each other’s faces ASAP, even if they were sitting right next to each other just moments before.
- Sleepovers Should Be Sleepunders Let’s be honest: sleepovers with preteens usually result in very little actual sleep. And don’t even get me started on their underwear situation—it’s like they never want to change!
- Picky Eaters with Sophisticated Drink Choices It’s curious how many of today’s kids are picky eaters, turning their noses up at anything that isn’t a processed nugget. Meanwhile, they’ll order a “grande iced skinny mocha-choco-latte half-caf with no whip” like it’s second nature!
- Attention Span Paradox Preteens seem to have the attention span of a goldfish—until it comes to video games. They can’t read a book for 15 minutes, but can easily spend two hours engrossed in Minecraft.
- Language Evolution Kids abbreviate everything on social media, yet they’ve turned “vs.” into a verb. I hear them ask, “Who are you versing tonight?” It’s a linguistic twist that even dictionaries might need to catch up with!
- The Photo Dilemma They can snap thousands of selfies in a week but will dodge family photos like they’re running a marathon. This year, I’ve given up on the perfect Christmas card photo and will simply compile their Instagram highlights instead.
Despite the whirlwind of changes, raising older kids can be a blast. When asked what it’s like, I describe it as having a quick bite with Gisele Bündchen after racing Tom Brady in a fun run!
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In summary, navigating the world of modern preteens is filled with amusing contradictions, from their confidence to their quirky habits.