Cash, Cooking & Chaos: Summer Parenting With Teens
Summer break is here, and if you’re like us, you’re wondering how to keep teens busy without losing your mind.
We’ve got four at home: 13, 14, 15, and 16. This summer, we decided it was time for a new approach. Less laying around, more life skills. So we handed them some cash and said, “You’re in charge of meals.”
Summer Parenting With Teens: Giving Them Real-Life Responsibilities
Each kid gets a cash budget. One handles lunch, another takes on dinner, and every other night, someone owns dessert. We gave them a schedule, handed them money, and sent them off to the store. Their job? Plan the meal, shop smart, and cook it themselves.
It’s been one of the best parenting experiments we’ve tried.
They’re learning fast:
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How quickly money goes
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How to check what’s already in the pantry
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How to price ingredients and plan a full meal
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What it takes to prep and cook for six people
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“Normally they’re like, ‘Hey Tamekia, when’s dinner gonna be done?’ Now they understand the prep it takes,” — Tamekia
That quote sums it up. They’re realizing dinner doesn’t magically appear. They’re shopping, cutting, cooking, and sometimes even cleaning up (we’re still working on that part).
Learning Through Food (and Mistakes)
One of our favorite moments so far? The organic chicken mix-up.
“She picked up the expensive organic chicken breasts, not knowing they cost that much,” — Patrick
“We’re not against organic, but we gotta buy it on sale. Six people eat a lot. Organic thighs would’ve done just fine.” — Tamekia
These moments are gold. They’re learning how to stretch a budget and that every decision has a cost.
And here’s the fun part — they’ve been making meals we’ve never even had before. It’s creative and sometimes even impressive. One made burgers from scratch and learned how to grill them properly. Another made a full pasta dish with sides. It’s not just cooking, it’s ownership.
Cooking Contests and a Bit of Chaos
We’ve also had family cooking battles — two kids per team, random ingredients, and a blind taste test at the end.
We based it loosely on the show Chopped, and yes, it got competitive.
We’re not trying to raise chefs, but we do want them to be self-sufficient. Knowing how to plan, shop, and cook gives them confidence and practical skills they’ll use forever.
Keeping Teens Moving During Summer
Another part of summer parenting with teens? Getting them moving before they turn into furniture.
“If we don’t make a plan, we won’t see three out of the four until after 12,” — Patrick
We try to get everyone up by 10 a.m., especially with these Arizona temps. Between basketball, walking the dog, gym visits, or helping around the house, we want them moving, sweating, and doing something besides scrolling.
It takes effort, but we’ve seen progress. And honestly, they feel better when they’re up and moving — even if they’d never admit it out loud.
What’s Working for You This Summer?
Every family’s different. This is what’s working for us right now. Summer parenting with teens isn’t always easy, but with a little creativity and a lot of patience, we’re finding ways to make it meaningful.
Got your own summer tips or teen challenges?
We’d love to hear what you’re doing to keep your teens busy, motivated, or even just out of the pantry for 10 minutes.
👉 Contact us here or join us on TikTok and YouTube. Let’s keep this parenting thing real and rollin’.