I’m open for suggestions here—you’d think that with all that we’ve learned about skin cancer and UV rays and all the other harmful affects of too much sun, that the younger generation would wear sunscreen with the same ease and obviousness that they wear seatbelts. But, as the mom of three teenagers, I’m here to tell you that just isn’t the case. “Tanning” and lying in the sun are as popular as it ever was—even though these kids have heard of the harmful results since they were tiny!
I’m a pretty pale-skinned person who burns, sizzles, and fries easily. I can’t really wear shorts without getting pink legs, and have worn hats, sunscreen, and sunglasses since I was a teenager. While it came off as pretty dorky then (I tried to imagine I was a graceful Victorian lady, to counterbalance all of my hip, cool, browning friends who soaked up the sun and floated the lazy rivers), I am now blessed with pretty decent skin and almost no wrinkles—I know they’re still on the way, though! I was definitely one of those mothers who had bonnets and sunscreen on my babies and children throughout their entire childhood. But, now, since they are invincible, short-sighted teenagers—the sunscreen has become another battle ground.
I’m not sure what the solution is—some trendy media campaign maybe? Spreading the rumor that there are mind-altering chemicals in sunscreen that will seep into their skin and make teenagers smarter, prettier, funnier, or more talented? Meanwhile, I keep nagging and conspicuously leaving tubes of sunscreen all over the house (I buy them by the six-pack every May). Recently, when one of my daughters told me that she hoped her skin looked as good as mine when “she was my age” (a very rare compliment, indeed), I couldn’t help answering back—“sunscreen, hats and sunglasses.” Maybe one of these days—before too much damage has been done—they’ll start to listen to me again!
See Also: Teens, Health and Habits