Is Gen Z Really Stressed about Aging?
Plus Traveling with (and without) my teen!
Aging Like Milk? Gen Z has thoughts to share!
I spoke to the New York Times recently about whether Gen Z kids are feeling extra panicked about aging as they watch their faces change on Zooms calls and social media. If your child is leaning into facial care, this would be a good trend to talk over. Anyone who is telling you there is something wrong with your face (and selling you a "solution") does not have your best interests at heart. Talking about how advertising is can prey on our insecurities or even try to give us some new ones is an important door to open.
The lovely and brilliant Claire Zulkey talked to some young grownups (ie Older Gen-Zers) about growing up in the digital age and how they would advise slightly younger kids--even their own siblings. It is worth reading their responses!
I also got to have a conversation with kids media creator and expert, Carla Engelbrecht and education journalist Greg Toppo for The 74 about social media and surveillance.
On the road with teens (and for work)
It feels like another lifetime now, but we were lucky enough to have the chance to go to Barcelona over winter break. My teenager experienced Europe for the first time and could not get over the amazing public transit and gorgeous architecture. I hope we planted a seed for future study abroad...
Here's an abandoned castle that brought us all joy.
Although traveling with a teen can be fraught, we had a (mostly) great time as a family. One thing that helped--we agreed in advance on how much together time being tourists was mandatory and how much time the kid could spend chilling back at our apartment. We also agreed to leave the gaming computer at home and only brought a phone that could be used on WiFi.
Finally, I took a couple of blissful solo adventures visiting contemporary art museums and going shopping -- the things that no one else in my family wanted to do-- and it was great.
Immediately after we returned from Spain, I had an epic three city, five venue speaking trip to Santa Monica, Pasadena and Davis, California. If that's where we met, welcome to this community! I got to meet a member of my team in person (Hi Cindy!) and had so many great conversations with educators, kids and parents. I also had a bit of a rental car snafu in Santa Monica. So grateful I got the insurance this time.
Throughout my visits in California, everyone there was saying how cold it was. I'm based in Chicago, so...I didn't find it cold. It is all relative, of course. I enjoyed eating outside and went for walks every day, metabolizing as much Vitamin D as possible. Coming home after Barcelona and California has been an abrupt transition into the depths of a Midwest winter. I almost immediately came down with the flu and was isolated for a week, trying not to share it with my family.
The comforts of Netflix and borrowing books from the library on my Kindle helped a lot, but I got lonely and kind of blue in the darkness and isolation. It is also possible I'm also crashing a bit from the excitement of the fall book launch. I'm still on the book "tour" but winter travel is a little more tiring and unpredictable. Restoring as much as I can, and getting excited for upcoming trips to Connecticut, Tennessee and Colorado. Also, vowing to pace myself a bit differently next school year.
Some parenting books to check out.
While I was in California, I did a very fun event Zibby's bookstore with Dr. Cara Natterson, co-author with Vanessa Kroll Bennett of This Is So Awkward: Modern Puberty Explained. My interview with Cara and Vanessa (Listen here!) is an all time favorite and their podcast is a must-add to your queue!
At that same event, I got to meet two other lovely writers in person for the first time: Aurisha Smolarski, author of Cooperative Co-Parenting for Secure Kids and Kirsten Jones, Raising Empowered Athletes. These are very relevant books and you probably know someone who will want to read one or both! I'm so excited that I'll be on Kirsten's Raising Athletes podcast this spring. Meeting other authors is one of the highlights of writing a book and going on the road.
Looking forward to seeing some of you at upcoming events! If you are hoping to bring me to your workplace or community this summer or next school year, or you want to do some consulting about your product or curriculum, this is a good time reach out and Cindy will get you onto my schedule.
If you’ve been reading Growing Up in Public, please review!
Here are some things I'm finding restorative right now.
1) Trips to the gym with my favorite music. It is just too rainy and icy to walk outside this week.
2) Watching a compelling series with my family. Right now, it is Slow Horses! Fun, easy, definitely too violent for the little ones, but fine with my almost 15.
3) Rejecting "new year" panic. January is just another month. And here, it is a cold and dark month. So... I don't have all of our new doctors lined up yet (new insurance!) and no...I haven't fully planned summer, and yes...a few of the projects I thought were 2023 projects are not quite done.
It is OK. More Deep breaths. I spent the first two weeks in the year feeling like I was "late" but as I simply pick up and take steps to move forward. I hope that is helpful to anyone reading who is feeling "January guilt."
Keep hope alive...the days are getting longer.
I know you wrote this abotu Gen Z, but it's a good reminder for middle-aged, Gen X me too!: "Anyone who is telling you there is something wrong with your face (and selling you a "solution") does not have your best interests at heart."