Oh honey, now thatâs a question of great import if Iâve ever heard one. Pull up a chair and let Memaw pour you a cup of sweet tea, because this oneâs got layers like a casserole at a church potluck.
By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living | October 2025
What Grandparents Need to Know About Todayâs 13-Year-Olds
Theyâre growing up in a whole new world … but love, laughter, and listening never go out of style.
When we were 13, we were begging for our ears to get pierced or our own phone line. These kids? Oh, honey … theyâre managing a digital identity across three platforms before breakfast. Their social circles stretch across time zones, and half their âfriendsâ are people theyâve never met in person. Donât panic! Just remember: connection looks different now, but it still matters just as much.
Memawâs Tip: Instead of saying, âYouâre always on that phone,â try asking, âShow me whatâs got your attention.â You might get a peek into their world instead of a slammed door.
1ïžâŁ Theyâre Growing Up in a Different Galaxy, Not Just a Different Era
Their ânormalâ is fast, noisy, and online. But underneath it, they crave the same things we did: to be seen, heard, and safe. â€ïž
2ïžâŁ Theyâre Under Pressure … and Itâs Loud
Between school shootings, climate anxiety, political chaos, and online comparison traps, todayâs teens carry emotional backpacks heavier than our old Sears catalogues. They donât always show it, but their brains are in overdrive: scrolling, worrying, multitasking.
Memawâs Tip: Teach them your calm. Bake something together. Sit without an agenda. Youâre their soft place to land in a world that keeps demanding hustle.
3ïžâŁ Identity Is Fluid, Not Fixed
Thirteen-year-olds today are explorers. Gender, style, beliefs, all up for conversation. Theyâre growing up in an age that gives them language and permission to define themselves early. You donât have to understand everything to honor it.
Memawâs Tip: Ask questions, not opinions. âTell me more about that,â is a magical phrase that builds bridges across generations.
4ïžâŁ Their Humor Is Weird. Let It Be.
You may not âgetâ their memes, or why a picture of a frog in sunglasses made them laugh till they cried. But humor is how this generation processes chaos. If you can laugh with them, youâre halfway to trust.
Memawâs Tip: Donât try too hard to be âhip.â Just be game. Let them show you a TikTok or two. Itâs not about understanding the joke … itâs about sharing the giggle. đ€
5ïžâŁ They Still Need You, Even If They Roll Their Eyes About It đ
Underneath the hoodies, headphones, and hormones, your 13-year-old grandkid still needs someone who remembers when the world felt slower and safer. They wonât say it out loud, but your stories, your steadiness, your unconditional love … thatâs their anchor in the storm.
Memawâs Tip: Be present, not perfect. They donât need advice every time; sometimes they just need your company and your cookies.
đ Memawâs Final Word
Donât let the slang, screens, or sass fool you. These kids are incredible. Theyâre creative, adaptable, and braver than we give them credit for. They just need grandparents who stay curious instead of critical, and patient instead of panicky.
Because honey … every generation thinks the next oneâs gone to the dogs. And every time, those kids grow up to surprise us all. đ
đ©” What Parents Need to Know About Grandparents (According to Memaw)