Potential Magazine summer 2013 | Page 25

FUN! H CULTURE CLUB -All Ages- If your teen is artistic, show them you appreciate their creative side by joining them in an arts or crafts class at The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Hobby Lobby or Michael’s, reading a book together or taking in a play at The Alabama Shakespeare Festival or Cloverdale Playhouse. Set aside time to discuss what you read or saw. You can find some great probing questions for popular titles and classics on book club websites. If you’re artistic too, create a masterpiece together. Conduct your own outdoor painting workshop at one of our area’s many beautiful parks or neighborhoods. Spread the love: Form a mother-daughter summer book club with your teen’s friends and their moms. Pick a book that delves into an issue that your daughter might face when she enters college. In-TUNE There is a multitude of ways to enjoy music in our area. From big-name concerts at The Montgomery Performing Arts Center to outdoor jazz concerts and jam sessions with local musicians, if you and your teen are musicians or just like listening, you’ve got plenty to chose from. We love the Saturday Jam Sessions at Old Alabama Town. Pickin’ & Grinnin’: If you and your teen both love music but don’t currently play an instrument, consider taking guitar lessons together. You can practice as a pair and help each other out. -All Together- H SCORE! A Summer Mantra Summer is for fun, fun, fun and nothing academic. I may pay for it later, but my kids need a break! We are going to a Young Life family camp for a week of new experiences like riding horses, AND we will be together as a family! –parent council member Hot STUFF Cooking meals at home is almost always cheaper than eating out, so your teen should know some basic kitchen skills before they leave for college. Summer is a great time to pass along the knowledge they’ll need to make meals for themselves. Get them involved in summer cookouts so they can learn to master a grill. Make them responsible for making a side dish for a family get-together or assign them a night each week where they’re responsible for at least part of dinner. Cooking side-by-side is the best way to teach them. Plus, it’s fun! HHomemade Memories: At the end of the summer, create a recipe book for your teen to take off to college including the things you made together and other family favorites. Make sure to include photos of the finished dishes and shots of the two of you in action. A Friendly Competition Calling all sports fans: Treat your teen to a night out at a Biscuits baseball game or engage in little friendly competition. Stage your own tennis or golf tournament with the entire Try out a family. Even something as simple as a game of driveway parent and teen basketball can equal good times with your teen. tennis class at O’Connor Tennis No Skill Necessary: If you and your teen are Center starting more sports fans than sports players, you can still get in in June. the game. Go bowling and create silly challenges for each turn like rolling with the opposite hand. Find an old trophy at a thrift store to award to the “winner.” “My husband and three boys love anything basketball. they are always up for a 2-on-2 game and all the ‘jabs’ that go with it. I enjoy being there cheering them on!” - Debbie Schmidt, mother of 3 boys www.potentialmagazine.com 25 25