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Cut the summer mom guilt

Plus your guide to your kid’s slang

Hey there! At what point in summer break does your attitude go from “These poor kids deserve some rest” to “Is my child turning into a sloth? How could one person look at a phone for that many straight hours? Was I this lazy when I was their age?”

For us, it was approximately three days ago.

P.S. Notice our new look? We’ve revamped The Cap and we’re super jazzed about all the good stuff headed your way. Hit reply and let us know what you think (unlike your mother-in-law’s feedback, this advice is solicited…so don’t hold back).

How to Cut the Summer Mom Guilt

Repeat after us: You’re doing an incredible job. Your kids don’t need 47 expensive camp experiences to have a memorable summer. Running through sprinklers is a suitable replacement for bath time. Hot dogs actually are a complete meal from May through September.

Read these rules for summertime and don’t you forget them.

The Real World Effects of All That Scrolling

Shot: Social media is the engine behind the teen mental health crisis, according to a new study from the U.S. Surgeon General.

  • About one-third of teens between the ages of 13 and 17 say they're scrolling, posting, or otherwise engaging with social media "almost constantly."

  • A 2019 study found teens who spent more than three hours a day on social media "faced double the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes, including symptoms of depression and anxiety."

Chaser: Some states are getting more serious about curbing teen social media use. In the United States, Utah and Arkansas both have social media age restriction laws, and TikTok was recently banned in Montana.

Keep in mind: This problem is bigger than you as a parent—while designating “no phone time” or “tech-free zones” can help, the real responsibility lies with tech companies and lawmakers who can enforce widespread change to protect our kids.

How to Talk to Your Kids About Drugs

Following the heartbreaking news that Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez, grandchild of actor Robert De Niro, died last weekend after being sold pills laced with fentanyl, our group chat has been talking a lot about the right way to arm our teens with information that sticks with them instead of scaring them.

It comes down to education. These days, “the talk” isn’t about the birds & the bees. It’s about drug use. Because while drugs aren’t actually becoming more prevalent, they are becoming more dangerous. Consider talking to your kids about…

  • Utilizing fentanyl test strips

  • Recognizing the signs of drug overdose

  • Using Narcan, a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids when given in time

Bottom line: You can’t always ensure your kids won’t experiment with dangerous things like drugs, but you can teach them to make informed decisions with context in mind.

Want to learn more about how you do that? We’ve got you covered.

Teenager Translation: Mother is Mothering?

Welcome to The Cap’s Teenager Translation, where we tell you what the gibberish words your kids won’t stop repeating actually mean.

  • “She’s/they’re so mother for that.” Translation: That was iconic. “Mother” is typically used to describe a feminine figure doing something strong, impressive, creative, or generally rule-breaking or norm-defying.

  • “Barbiecore.” Translation: Of or relating to the Barbie cinematic universe as imagined by director Greta Gerwig in the upcoming Barbie movie. Explains all the hot pink. For further reading: the grownup’s guide to this summer’s viral trends.

  • “Rizz.” Translation: Charisma. Often used in a flirtatious manner, as in “he’s got rizz” might mean your teen is interested in the modern interpretation of dating (Snap streak, occasional FaceTime) with said rizz-haver.

The perfect recs to make the most of summertime—and that means a little you time.

  • To read: If you have time for a book, A Perfect Vintage will make you feel like you’re France instead of your best friend’s backyard (nothing wrong with that though).

  • To do: Make a summer “f*ck it list” instead of a summer bucket list (top of our f*ck it list: jeans that aren’t comfortable). Cut the crap with all those unrealistic expectations and do you this summer.

  • To enjoy: As far as we’re concerned, frosé was never just a passing trend. Make this one with peaches to level up your most-sipped drink of 2019.

  • To try out: Our latest bathing suit review for moms was this one from Bond-Eye Swim and the best comment award goes to…

We joke a lot about how different summers as a parent are from those wild summers in your early 20s. But the truth is? These are the best days (yet).

Having our whole crew under one roof won’t last forever, and nothing beats the pool days, cook-outs, movie marathons, and road trips with kids who still want to hang out with you.

So once you get off your phone reading this, go ask your family what their favorite summer memory is and do your best to recreate that kind of magic together today.

Have fun out there!

—Cat & Nat