Is this normal for teenagers now?!

[onlytuesday]

When I was 14 I spent every weekend with my friends, and several weeknights after school too. We would just be 'hanging out' at someone's house or in town etc. Now I know at the moment teens are limited by social distancing but they can still meet each other and go round each other's houses as long as they're careful (we don't live in the north). Since the restrictions have eased I've said to my almost 14yo has met up with her friends only a handful of times. When I say why don't you meet so and so instead of just FaceTiming them I get told she can't meet up with just one of her close friends as the others would be jealous (there's 4 of them), and in any case people don't just meet up like that 🤷🏻‍♀️ Aibu or is this how it is now? I just want her to get out the house have some fresh air, a bit of exercise and some social interaction 'IRL' as she would put it?!

I think it depends on lots of factors - how outgoing the teen is, how much they like their friends (often kids get stuck in groups they’re not sold on), and things like the rural/city divide.

Since lockdown measures eased my three (14, 16, nearly 18) have been socialising almost every day, with the year 13 spending pretty much every night in the park until 3am with her friends. I started off worrying about the late return but realised when she goes to university I’ll have no idea when she’s getting home so just have to let go... however at about 12/13 there was one very unpleasant girl in her friend group which meant she socialised less as would say no if this girl was going.

We live in a city, very close (

Yes, I think you’re overreacting. No offence obviously. A 13yo does not want to hang out with a 6 yo - they’re too different of ages and for your niece it probably feels more like babysitting than an afternoon to enjoy. You can hang out with your sister either in the evenings when your daughter has gone to bed or make a play date for your daughter with a child her age and see your sister then. Young teens are finding it rough during lockdown so I wouldn’t put the added stress/ expectation on your niece. She’s just a child.