It’s my third time around, and I have finally discovered the key to parenting a teenage child. If you want to keep them close, and know what is going on in their lives, you need to manifest an invisibility cloak, and wear it around their friends.

It’s the simplest magic trick you’ll ever perform, and as effective as any Harry Potter spell. If you stay very still, and desist from making any sudden movements or sounds, your invisibility cloak will materialise. The teens will not be able to see you at all; at least, they will act like they cannot see or hear you. They will quickly forget that you are there in the room – or forget that you are an actual sentient being – and they will begin talking freely as though you are not there.

I’ve created my own version of Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak as a parenting tool.Credit:

And this is invaluable. As the parent of a teen, you know what you know, but you have no idea what you don’t know about their lives. Being invisible helps you to stay informed, by allowing you to hover on the outskirts and listen to their conversations. If you’re lucky, you’ll hear reassuring little snippets, like “that maths homework was really hard,” and “Mr Peters is an awesome teacher.” If you’re unlucky, you’ll hear, “I’m scoring Special K tonight”, or “does this ID look real to you?” or “who do you think is the father?”

Either way, it’s important information.

I become invisible when my teen and her friends are gathered in the living room, chatting, and laughing and eating pizza. I move very quietly around them, blending into the furniture, looking studiously disinterested but remaining alert.

“Bro,” one of them is saying. “You are so into her.”

Teenagers don’t tend to listen to their parents. But that doesn’t mean we can’t listen to them.Credit: iStockphoto

“I am not!” the other replies.

“Ha! Cringe,” says a third, holding up her phone.

QOSHE - The magic trick to parenting teens is hiding in plain sight - Kerri Sackville
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The magic trick to parenting teens is hiding in plain sight

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16.01.2024

It’s my third time around, and I have finally discovered the key to parenting a teenage child. If you want to keep them close, and know what is going on in their lives, you need to manifest an invisibility cloak, and wear it around their friends.

It’s the simplest magic trick you’ll ever perform, and as effective as any Harry Potter spell. If you stay very still, and desist from making any sudden movements or sounds, your invisibility cloak will materialise. The teens will not be able........

© The Sydney Morning Herald


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