- From the NPN Weekly: Modern parenting is really hard, plus encouraging teens to save money
Parenting IRL: Teaching Teens to Save Money
Is teaching financial literacy on your parenting to-do list?
It might be top of mind or maybnot, considering that financial literacy among U.S. adults is at a 10-year low.
That figure includes Gen Z-ers.
One NPN member wonders if other parents of teens also require their kids to save.
Do you press your kids to save a certain percentage of what they earn?
Did you start earlier than high school? Weigh in!
Trending: Modern Parenting Is Tough
Modern parenting is tough with a capital T, and probably getting even harder. Why?
We’re inundated with messaging that tells us how to parent but rarely get the kind of validating in-person feedback we need when struggling with guilt over missing sporting events, feeling exhausted, or struggling against systems—like the modern work day—that aren’t friendly to parents, especially those with young children.
The way parents responded in surveys by Nanit, New America, and Teleflora says it all:
Over 70% of parents say they wish they had more time with their kids.
More than half of parents think they’re not spending enough quality time with their kids during the work week.
Nearly 40% of moms feel guilty about being overwhelmed or distracted.
More than 60% of parents say they want more personal time.
But almost 70% say they feel guilty about wanting/needing that time to themselves.
If those stats speak to you, you’re not alone. And the good news is that experts agree that talking to other parents and trusting your own instincts are powerful tools to block out the noise and focus on what actually works for you as a parent.
👋 Are you an expectant or new mom looking for community? NPN will be launching a New Moms Group this fall. Stay tuned! 🗓️
In Chicago Parenting News:
The Chicago Sun Times reports that e-scooters are popular among city teens, but they’re proving dangerous and even deadly.
Your rising eighth grader will take a new high school admissions test in October. Chalkbeat has more.
Good news for pool-goers: Block Club reports that the city’s outdoor pools will open a week early this summer.
Parents in Chicago and throughout the state now have NICU leave.
Have you heard Illinois passed a landmark AI law mandating third-party audits and oversight?
Before You Go ...
We’ll be at Horner Park Playground (near the picnic table area) Sunday, June 28, for a casual playground hang.
Stop by for a snack, crafts, and the chance to earn one month—or up to six months—of free membership. Register now or just check in with me on Sunday.