Do you ever wonder how you can subtly but genuinely celebrate your teen during quarantine and a challenging school semester? Do you want to show an appreciation for teens perseverance and flexibility during these difficult times?
If you told me in January that I would be moving home from college and spending half of my semester online, I would have called you crazy. In March, I was confronted with this reality though along with students across the country.
As the oldest of four, I saw firsthand how hard it was for my parents to turn our kitchen into a classroom. My parents woke up early with my siblings everyday. They helped with homework assignments, coordinated Zoom meetings, all while making us dinner every night and adapting to their own modified work schedules.
For the past three months, students of all grades have been forced to break their routines and adapt with no notice. For the past three months, parents have been forced to upend their lives and take on the role of “teacher.” Let’s take a moment and recognize the accomplishments we have all achieved in the past few months. 
Even though it’s been a few years since I finished high school, as a student, it is always rewarding to be recognized for your hard work. In this time of uncertainty and change, letting students know that their adaptability to unusual circumstances has not gone unseen is crucial.
As the semester draws to a close, before we rush to fill our schedules with activities to stay occupied or turn our focus to the fall, we should embrace this period of rest and reflect on the changes we have all adapted to since March.
How can you celebrate your teenagers and make them feel seen? Here are a few things my parents did for me in high school that always made me feel like my hard work was recognized:
- Let your teen(s) pick a restaurant to order a special dinner from. Even though we may not be able to go out to eat during these times of uncertainty, a fun night ordering in can be just as special.
- Have a special dessert – bake, order in, go out for ice cream, whatever your teen prefers!
- A card! I love cards and letters, and nothing makes me happier than finding a card from one of my parents on my bed or on my desk after I’ve achieved something.
As you celebrate your teens though, don’t forget to recognize all the work you have done too, parents.
We have all made notable accomplishments while simultaneously coping with the stress and change that the past few months have brought us, and for that we should celebrate.
After you take time to rest, after you reflect, after celebrating, don’t forget that you can still get a free 15 minute session with Total Writing Enrichment to help your teen organize their college essays, get practice writing prompts, or even just keep their brains busy.
All my best,
Moira ♥
*Moira Ritter is a junior at Georgetown University and looks forward to contributing her writing skills to Total Writing Enrichment this summer!
