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Every once in awhile you stumble upon a gem and you just know: From this moment forward, nothing will ever be the same. Finding this article about teen slang last week was one of those moments.
Let me be perfectly clear: Parents who think they are cool are not cool. It’s embarrassing, really.
No, my husband and I know exactly how old and out of touch we are. We just happen to also think it’s hilarious to illustrate that to our teenage children now and then.
So upon finding this article, I messaged my husband, and we spent the day learning a foreign language.
Learn Teen Slang
As we sat down to dinner, I looked across the table at the boys and said,
So… Dad and I found a resource today to help us learn teen slang to improve our communication with you.
Nope. No. Absolutely not.
Please don’t.
So what I’m hearing you say is that you think this is wack?
Make it stop.
My husband and I took different strategies throughout the meal.
He spoke normally, but ended every sentence with “bruh” or “fam”. (Although at one point he did wave his finger while he told my son to “swipe left”)
I chose to sneak in catchy phrases when the opportunity arose.
For example, my eldest suggested he might go on my computer and delete the bookmarked article I’d found.
No problem, I’ll just pop a Goog and find it again.
No one says that, mom. That’s not a thing.
Don’t get shook, I’m gucci.
You don’t even make sense.
You just don’t want to admit how lit I am.
My husband chimed in,
Facts
Make Memories
As we finished our meal, I relished the fact that both of my boys were at the table. I took mental video of them laughing and added their smiles to my mind’s album.
Whether you try your hand at teen slang or not…please laugh with your kids. Make memories with them in the small moments. Eat dinner together. Play games. (We’ve been playing a lot of Super Mario Party lately…I’m determined to win one of these times!). Talk in the car. Do things with your teen. Put your phone down, close your laptop, and be with your children!
As I said, I don’t particularly think it’s cool to try and be your kids’ best friend. You’re their parent for a reason. And parenting can be hard work. As parents of teens, it’s hard to know sometimes how to advise them and where to set boundaries.
But the fact that we have to be the heavy sometimes is all the more reason to create and savor moments to laugh with your kids.
Pro tip: Notice I said laugh with your kids, not laugh at them. When your children are young, they are an extension of yourself. You can post about them on social media because they are yours. Please don’t make the mistake I’ve seen too many parents make of not being respectful of their teens on social media.
My husband and I love to tease our boys that we are going to embarrass them. (Like when we told them we were working on a dance routine to show their friends.) But the fact is, we always get their permission before sharing any pictures of them on social media. And yes, I got their permission before posting this story, too.
Validation
When my youngest stood up with his plate to leave the dinner table I said,
Hey hon…
MmHmm?
You finna bounce?
He rolled his eyes as he walked into the kitchen. Then he turned around and said with a smile,
OK, that was actually pretty good.
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Great share! 🙂
Thanks, Bette! Glad you enjoyed it.
I just read your post to my kids. Because we know all the players here it was extra funny. And B reacted just like the boys did to all your comments (before I even had a chance to read the boys’ responses). She is still cringing 😉
Too funny! Tell her to bounce on over any time and we can hang together. It’ll be totally lit.
This is hilarious. Not three hours ago I was telling my teen that half the time I feel like she’s speaking another language. Thanks! 😂
Right?! It really is another language.
This was HYSTERICAL!! I’m dyinggggg..I wish I was at the table with you guys..I do this with dance moves..loll! Great article with great fun..keep the laughs going so important with teens 🙂
Our kids leave the room immediately if we start dancing. hahaha
I love this so much. My teen/preteen are homeschooled so we’re all kind of out of touch with teen slang. lol
Well, according to my kids, this will not help them learn it. hahaha
Such a cute post, and a great message that all parents should read! Thanks, Susan!
It is ABSOLUTELY funny. More then the slangs I have problems in catching up with the new abbreviation coming up almost every date. I really want to know is there a common directory where the meaning of these abbreviations is the store, or is there a secret organization coming up with them.
hahaha…a secret organization. 🙂 A directory would be nice, although it would change so fast!
So much fun! I have teen boys I could try this on too 😊
Have fun!
This is so funny! I hear my kids talking like this all the time; it is so contagious. Great post.
Great, funny post! It clear you have built a good relationship with your boys, that’s a beautiful thing. Mine are grown and games are our favorite thing to do together, lots of laughter. Thanks for sharing 8)
Some of our best memories are from playing games. Such a good way to connect!
No cap just facts- THIS made me smile. Can’t wait to read the rest of your blog!
Thank you! Hope it’s not too cheugy for you. 🙂