Surviving the Holidays with Teens: A Guide for the Seasoned Parent
A wee bit of Holiday Themed Humor:
Surviving the Holidays with Teens: A Guide for the Seasoned Parent
Ah, the holidays. A magical time of twinkling lights, festive cheer, and… your teen giving you MAD side-eye when you suggest wearing matching family pajamas. If you’re a parent of teenagers, you know the season comes with its own set of challenges. Long gone are the days when holiday magic meant watching Rudolph in footie pajamas and drinking hot cocoa with whipped cream mustaches. Now it’s eye rolls, sarcastic comments, and constant battles to peel them away from their screens.
But fear not! While navigating the holidays with teenagers can feel like herding caffeine-fueled cats, it is possible to survive and maybe even enjoy yourself—if you follow this humorous survival guide
1. The Art of Waking the Teenager
The first challenge of the holiday season is simple: getting your teenager out of bed before noon. You’d think you were asking them to climb Mount Everest barefoot. Whether it’s because of winter break sleep-ins, late-night TikTok binges, or an existential disdain for mornings, teens are like vampires—they come alive after sunset.
Pro Tip: If you need them up early, bribery works wonders. Mention the possibility of food (specifically, snacks you never keep in the house), a shopping trip, or anything involving Wi-Fi. Alternatively, blast “Jingle Bell Rock” at full volume and watch them emerge from their lair in full grumpy protest.
Warning: Doing this more than once may result in a mutiny. Use sparingly.
2. Holiday Family Time: A Delicate Balancing Act
When it comes to family activities, teenagers tend to classify these events into one of two categories:
“Do I have to go?”
“I’m literally dying right now.”
Family game nights, Christmas tree shopping, or watching Home Alone (again) are met with resistance, sarcasm, or that blank stare they’ve perfected. But deep down—buried under layers of teenage aloofness—they actually do care. They just don’t want you to know they care.
Pro Tip: Set low expectations. Suggest an activity and prepare for grumbling. When they finally crack a smile during your chaotic attempt at baking cookies, pretend not to notice or they’ll immediately regret their moment of joy. The goal here is stealthy fun—you will win them over one snarky comment at a time.
3. Feeding the Holiday Hunger Beasts
Here’s a fun fact: teenagers are always hungry, and during the holidays, their appetites double. It’s like living with a herd of yetis that snack continuously. You can bake three dozen cookies in the afternoon, and by dinner, the only evidence they ever existed is a dusting of crumbs and empty milk cartons in the fridge.
Pro Tip: Embrace the chaos. Stockpile snacks, but hide a secret stash for yourself—parenting during the holidays requires fuel. Also, if you want to lure teens out of their rooms, food is the ultimate bait. A strategically placed plate of brownies or mention of takeout will have them casually “wandering” into the kitchen, as though you didn’t just summon them like a food wizard.
4. Managing Holiday Attitudes
Ah, teenage mood swings. One moment they’re laughing at a terrible dad joke (victory!), and the next, they’re slamming doors because you dared ask, “What’s wrong?” during their intense contemplation of life. Combine general teenage brooding with holiday stress, and you’ve got a recipe for drama fit for a Netflix holiday special.
Pro Tip: Don’t take it personally. Teenagers have perfected the art of being irritated for no reason. Just nod, throw out a non-committal “Wow, I get it,” and back away slowly. Later, when they’re calm and pretending like nothing happened, hand them a snack and keep the peace.
Also, resist the urge to comment on their holiday style choices. If they want to show up to Grandma’s in a hoodie and ripped jeans, let it go. Choose your battles wisely.
5. Tech Time vs. Family Time: The Eternal Struggle
The glow of your Christmas lights is nothing compared to the glow of your teen’s phone screen. It’s practically glued to their hands, and asking them to “put it away” during family events feels like suggesting they give up oxygen.
Pro Tip: Compromise. Instead of banning tech entirely (which will only spark rebellion), create phone-free zones during key events—like dinner or unwrapping presents. Sweeten the deal with promises of screen time later. Bonus points if you challenge them to take funny family selfies or create a TikTok dance for the holidays. Hey, you might go viral!
6. Cherish the Little Moments
Despite the sighs, eye rolls, and random bursts of attitude, the holidays with teens are still filled with hidden gems. It might be when they grudgingly help decorate the tree and end up laughing at the weird ornament you’ve had since 1983. Or when they flop on the couch to watch a movie “just for five minutes” and stay for the entire thing.
These moments are gold—don’t let their teenage exteriors fool you. Beneath all the sass is the same kid who once squealed at the sight of Santa.
Final Thoughts: Remember, It’s Temporary
Here’s the secret to surviving the holidays with teens: keep your sense of humor. Yes, they’re moody. Yes, they’ll eat you out of house and home. But one day, you’ll miss the mess, the sarcasm, and even the endless battles over matching pajamas.
So, let them sleep in a little longer. Laugh off their dramatic sighs. And when you catch them genuinely enjoying themselves—no matter how hard they try to hide it—know that you’re doing just fine.
After all, the holidays are about love, laughter, and occasionally reminding your teens that they’re still part of the family, even if they refuse to admit it.
Happy holidays, and may the odds (and snacks) be ever in your favor!
*Jeana Lavallee, Wearer of many hats, Kin Mom, Edie's Gigi, Autism mom*
