In times of crisis, we often witness both the best and the worst of humanity. Fortunately, the pandemic has prompted an overwhelming wave of appreciation for those working tirelessly to help us navigate these challenging times: from postal workers and delivery drivers to healthcare professionals and grocery staff. But amidst this commendation, I want to take a moment to acknowledge a specific group that deserves our recognition – our teenagers and older tweens.
Teens and tweens find themselves in a particularly challenging phase of life. They are gaining independence from their parents while also being heavily reliant on social connections for their development. The abrupt shift to remote learning and stay-at-home orders in March left many parents, including myself, anxious about how this would impact our teens, who are at a crucial stage of forming relationships and asserting their independence.
Over the past few months, I have been genuinely impressed by the resilience and adaptability of teenagers. Sure, there have been moments of frustration, like when we see posts about groups of teens gathering in parks or playing sports together. It’s easy to focus on these instances and label teens as irresponsible. However, this narrative overlooks the reality that the majority of teenagers are adhering to safety guidelines. In fact, many adults have been seen flouting those very rules, as evidenced by a group of moms I saw enjoying iced coffees together just yesterday.
Most teens I know—just like the ones you likely know—are doing their best to follow social distancing measures. They are learning about COVID-19 and its implications, limiting their outings to essential activities like walks with family or backyard games. They are logging into various educational platforms to keep up with schoolwork and are dealing with significant losses: canceled proms, sports seasons, and graduations, all while showing remarkable grace and understanding.
Admittedly, there are days when our teens might seem moody or unmotivated. They may neglect chores or find themselves glued to video games late into the night. Yet, amidst these challenges, they are also finding ways to stay connected with friends, share laughter over video chats, and even participate in virtual classes and office hours.
Many are taking heroic steps by helping others, whether that be delivering groceries to elderly neighbors or supporting friends in need. Others are simply navigating this unprecedented situation with kindness and patience, which can also be seen as a form of heroism.
To all the teens and older tweens out there, you are doing an incredible job during these uncertain times. Your laughter during video calls is a comforting reminder of normalcy amid the chaos. Your resilience inspires those around you.
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In conclusion, let’s celebrate our teens. They are not just surviving this crisis; they are thriving in ways we never imagined possible.