How to be a fun parent ?

[Noangelbuthavingfun]

Teenage DC.... realised we had so much fun when younger ... always out on weekends making memories. Now we hardly do stuff together and I get it. But give me some context please ... are you a fun parent ? What do u do with teenagers and what do you consider fun? Did you have fun parents and you fondly Remember your teenage years - if so tell me about it ?
Life gets in the way and that doesn't help. We never have friends over anymore either which is also playing into it. Or do I overthink and just let a teen be ? Thanks !

Depends what you mean by fun.

Letting your kids walk over you with no boundaries while they do what they like might be fun for them, but not everyone else.

Do you mean you don't have your friends over anymore? Why not?

I think teens naturally withdraw as they get older. They're suppose dto rely on you less. However I'd encourage their friends over.

Not walking over us no... just general fun. Laughing lots, being silly, doing interesting things together. I mean their friends - our house is small and I prefer them going out for some sense of responsibility and freedom.

I think you need to welcome their friends. The silliness and banter comes back then. That's what I remember about teen years, my friends being welcomed and getting on with my parents.

Teens pull away fron parents and don't want days out as a family as much, if at all! I think teen years are less about long the stretches of time together, and more about those shorter moments of having a laugh over whatever drama they have to tell you about so and so at school. Car journeys, sitting round the table at dinner time.
I try to listen more, tell them what to do less, be silly, create in jokes, banter, have a vague understanding of the latest memes and tiktok videos...
I try to encourage friends to come round and since they go to the same clubs a lot, we lift share. The best chats happen in the car!

You learn about their interests and OFFER don't force. I know allllllll about reptiles and anime even though I can't stand either.

I think most people will look back on their teenage years and remember the fun stuff they did with their mates, not their parents.
It's ok to take that step back, just be welcoming to friends, make them know your home is always open to them, and watch them thrive with their independence.
And treasure the small moments when they communicate with you.

I can still get them to play cards or a board games around the table after dinner once every 2-3 weeks. Some interesting chat comes out and they give each other advice and stuff. Days out they are less keen on, but they will still come to the cinema for Marvel and a few other things. Aged 19, 17 and 14.

I find the teenage years so much easier! I wouldn't necessarily describe our time together as fun but we watch TV, go for walks, play the odd game, go shopping or for coffee & chat about our day, often on our walks which is really important to us