Is your teen vaping?

1 in 6 kids are…

Hello everyone! Random thought of the day: Isn’t it kind of messed up how white pants season arrives at the exact same time as BBQ season? We’re out here in the trenches dodging mustard stains left and right! And if you ignore the silly unwritten rule and wear white pants all year long…you’re the real MVP.

Vaping in Plain Sight

TikTok isn’t just an app designed to make people over the age of 25 feel ancient. It’s also a stellar sales tool…which can be concerning when those perfectly targeted ads get in front of our teens. 

Case in point: TikTok is one of the primary platforms where vape ads are shown, according to the Nicotine and Tobacco Research Journal. The companies selling these vapes target teens and pre-teens using purposefully misleading hashtags like #puffbundles and packaging them up with innocent products like lip gloss and candy.

Some alarming stats:

  • More than 1 in 6 middle- and high-schoolers reported using e-cigarettes in 2023. 

  • And nearly two-thirds of teenagers used TikTok in 2023…so you can see why vape companies are targeting kids on the platform.

So what are parents to do? Stay on top of what your kids order online. Monitor and inspect their packages to fully ensure their safety. Talk to them about the dangers of vaping (here’s a great guide to start the convo). Your teens may not like it, but someday they’ll understand.

The Pressure of “What’s Next?

Graduation season is upon us. And if your teenager is in high school, this dreaded question will come up more and more: “What’s the plan after graduation?” 

For some kids, the answer might be college. And that’s great! Higher education is a fantastic next chapter…but it’s not one size fits all. We loved this mom’s POV on the reality that college ≠ success.

After all, not everyone’s dreams require them to go to college. And some kids don’t know exactly what they want to do at the age of 17, which is more than understandable. 

Our parenting POV: College shouldn’t be presented to kids as the only option. Society has a way of making kids feel like failures if they don’t have a degree. That’s not only deeply elitist, but also simply not true! Remind your child (and yourself) that they have options.

And if you want more tips? We’ve got 5 things to do to help your child plan for their future, whether it includes college or not. (P.S. this one is for Common Parent members—get a free 14-day trial here!)

How to Check In With Your Child

Mom truth: Withholding information from your parents is practically a rite of passage for teenagers (along with asking to be dropped off a block away from school). But checking in on your kid’s mental health can feel like a balancing act:

  • You don’t want to ask too many questions, or else they’ll shut down (been there). 

  • But you also don’t want to miss out on important convos about how they’re doing, what they’re struggling with, and how you can help. 

So what should you do? Focus on check-ins that are meaningful and productive, according to mental health professional Zuania Capó. Here are some awesome tips and tricks for getting it right.

Say it with us: There’s no such thing as a perfect parent. We’re all just out here trying to do our best. That’s what we always tell our kids, right? “Just do your best!”

Time to take our own advice and turn down the pressure. Because all that matters is leading with love. So today, the perfect recs to go a little easier on yourself.

Summer vacation season is upon us and we really, really hope you’re able to get some time away. Just a friendly reminder from us: Don’t put too much pressure on these getaways. Things will go wrong. It will probably rain at some point. You’ll have to stop 17 times for bathroom breaks. Someone will forget a bathing suit. Or a toothbrush. Or a shoe (we’re still not sure how this happens but it does). 

Summer trips, whether they are near or far, aren’t supposed to be picture perfect. They’re supposed to be a chance to make memories with the people you love the most in the world. It’s what you all deserve! ❤️

—Cat & Nat