The Infamous Teen Eye Roll and Scowl

The Infamous Teen Eye Roll and Scowl

When I was about thirteen or fourteen, my parents wanted to take us to the Shakespeare festival in Cedar City, Utah. I moaned and groaned, as did my brother Eric. "Shakespeare Mom, really! How can you do that to us? It will be so boring. Please don't make us go." And then I did what most teens do so well - I rolled my eyes. If you have a teen or have had one; you will understand me. There should be a teen eye rolling competition because I think they have mastered this skill! 


That Shakespeare festival that I was dragged to; I loved it of course but didn't want my Mom and Dad to know. I would never admit defeat and tell them it was a great idea. 

My teens are no different than I was. They are interested in the world but if I suggest things I get push back. A central theme in a teens life is autonomy, and the mere fact that I am suggesting brings a most certain glare, scowl, or rolling of the eyes or a comment to the likes of, "Mom, our generation isn't like that..tsss. Please don't even try."

I think back often to that festival and about how it felt to be a teen. I wanted to be different than my parents, to push back on what they thought and create my life. It is funny how annoyed I can get when my teens take for granted everything we are offering them. I have to remind myself constantly, "Yes, I acted like this too, and I turned out just fine."

I do two things when I get annoyed; I try to make them think some things are their own ideas and I let them take the lead on some activities but I also make them do things they don't like! I deal with the moaning and groaning, and I move ahead knowing one day they will thank me that  I've dragged them to a concert or a museum. The same goes for our digital detox days or hours. When I decide they need to put it all away, there isn't a choice, and honestly, I can tell within an hour how much good it is doing them. My son will never admit it now, but then again I would never have admitted as a teen that I had loved the Shakespeare festival I fought so hard not to attend. I choose to take no offense, to remember my teen days and look at the world from their perspective. It helps every time.


–Allison Ochs, Social Worker M.S.W. , Coach, Expat, Mother of three, Wife

If you are interested in a webinar or workshops click here

If you want to look at our free resources click here

If you want to buy the Oscar and Zoe and primary school books click here

If you want to buy our books and resources for teens click here

If you want to subscribe to our mailing list click here

Photo by Dan 7Kidz on Unsplash