Raising a teenage boy in today’s world is not for the faint of heart—or the humorless. The mission to shape a kind, emotionally aware young man in an era in which “rizz” is a compliment and full sentences are optional often feels like we are parenting in a foreign country with no translator. And let’s be honest, it sort of is.

Take, for instance, the time my son called someone “mid.” I paused, unsure if I needed to intervene or just pretend that I understood. Turns out “mid” now means average—and no, it’s not a compliment. We had a long talk about how humor doesn’t have to come at someone’s expense, even if it’s trending in the group chat.

Of course, social media is its own tightrope walk. One moment he’s showing me a harmless meme and the next he’s quoting a content creator with questionable life advice. Teaching a teenager how to become a thoughtful human now includes digital literacy, media discernment and learning that not everything that’s viral is valuable.

Being a modern-day gentleman isn’t just about opening doors or saying “please.” It’s about knowing when to put the phone down, how to disagree respectfully and that empathy is a strength, not a weakness. We practice emotional intelligence like a sport in our house. I’ll ask, “How do you think your friend felt when you ghosted him?” or “Would you say that in front of Grandma?” Cue the sighs, shrugs and the ever-present “bruh”—which loosely translates to “Mom, please stop making this a moment.”

But the truth is, he is listening. I see it in the way he quietly makes us dinner without being asked, brings in and puts away the groceries (mostly in the right places), compliments someone without sarcasm or speaks up when something doesn’t sit right. I see it when he sets down his phone (occasionally without being asked) or apologizes sincerely instead of defensively.

Raising a good human in the age of Wi-Fi and one-second attention spans is about showing up with consistency, humor and a whole lot of patience. It’s about adapting to new lingo while holding onto timeless values. And while I may never fully decode the language of Gen Z, I’ll keep trying—because one day, when he becomes a man who leads with kindness, listens with intent and acts with integrity, I’ll know all those “bruh” moments were worth it.

Even if I still don’t know what “no cap” means.

Shae Marcus, publisher of Natural Awakenings South Jersey and Philadelphia, is a mom of two teens. She juggles eye rolls, snack wrappers and the mystery of disappearing glassware. Raising kind humans in the age of Wi-Fi and slang is her full-time unpaid internship. So far, no one’s fired her—though she has been ghosted at dinner.