✨ Previously, on the Sim Side of Susan… ✨
A new chapter just opened for this family—and it’s already chaotic in the best way. Check out the last blog post here to catch up (yeah… I have been gone for awhile…)
This chapter marks a turning point for the entire household. Growing up, growing ambitious, and growing complicated all collide at once.
Since the last update, River has stepped into his teen years with more questions than answers. Sienna finds herself balancing career momentum, family life, and unexpected emotional shifts. What follows isn’t a collection of perfect moments, but a series of transitions—some awkward, some unfinished, all meaningful.
In my absence, has there been any new cool Sims 4 mods or changes? Any fun Sims stories that I need to make sure I follow along with?
📚 River’s Teen Era Begins…
And the moment he did, something shifted. Childhood didn’t exactly end—it followed him. It lingered in the way he still wants comfort and fairness. He still wants to be understood, even as the world starts expecting more from him.
Stepping into high school felt less like a fresh start and more like a proving ground. New halls, new rules, new eyes watching. River walked in like he had something to prove because, deep down, he does. He’s spent so much of his life caught between wanting to belong and wanting to disappear when things get overwhelming.
The confidence is there now—new vibe, new energy—but so is the pressure. To grow up faster. To react better. To know things no one ever really teaches you.
And just like that, the teen era begins: bigger emotions, messier situations, and the kind of drama that doesn’t ask if you’re ready first.
Do any of you have any Sims that now a teenage? Or have a fun Sim teen stories? Let me know in the comments below!
😵💫 The Sleepover Incident
River went to a sleepover. He ended up getting kicked out for “inappropriate behavior” even though the poor kid was literally just trying to sleep! It wasn’t his fault he couldn’t remember which sleeping bag had been given to him. He didn’t even remember to bring one in the first place!
So what does he do next? He hangs around outside and eavesdrops on everyone inside like a tiny detective.
And at least his friend Leo Black came out to check on him—true friendship, even with River’s questionable hygiene included. 😭 This at least allowed time to pass before River was allowed to return home to clean up!
Have any of your Sims had a slumber party gone awry? Drop that information in the comment below!
❄️ Sienna + J: Winter Date Gone Wrong
Sienna and J tried to have a cute little swim date… in the winter. It was one of those ideas that made perfect sense to them—the kind born from wanting to escape routine and feel close again, if only for an hour.
Sienna has been chasing momentum lately, pouring everything she has into her career, while J stands firmly in his own orbit, loving her loudly and unapologetically in the ways only he can. The date wasn’t about logic. It was about choosing each other in the middle of busy lives.
The cold didn’t stop them. It never really does. They’ve always met life head‑on, trusting that memories matter more than comfort. But this time, the universe pushed back. One wrong move. One sharp moment. Suddenly, the romance cracked. Sienna was injured. The laughter was gone. Concern rushed in where flirtation used to be.
What was meant to be playful turned fragile. And in that quiet shift—from excitement to worry—you could see it clearly: this is what they do. They take risks, they stumble, they adjust. J stayed close, the date no longer about swimming or spontaneity, but about care. About being there when plans fall apart.
Not every memory is perfect. Some are bruised, shortened, and inconvenient. But they still count. Especially the ones that remind you who shows up when things don’t go as planned.
Sadly, with all of the pain, Sienna didn’t even think to take any pictures 😦
Do you have any date horror stories? Tell me about them in the comments down below!
🎗️ Family Time (and River’s impatience)
River was the one who pushed for the family to volunteer together—to show up, to matter, to do something good.
The “walk for a cure” wasn’t just an event to him. It was proof that he can step into this new teen version of himself. He can make choices that meant something. For once, he wasn’t being dragged along. He was leading!
At the start, he was focused. Proud, even. He walked beside his family. He was surrounded by people who cared about causes bigger than themselves. He felt that quiet sense of purpose he’s been chasing lately. The kind that says, maybe I am growing up.
But growth doesn’t erase old instincts overnight. As the walk went on, the noise and the time commitment increased. The weight of staying put was hard when his emotions were already running high. It all started to be too much for River to handle. That familiar restlessness crept back. The part of River that wants to join… but also wants an exit. The part that tries, genuinely, and then hits a wall faster than he expects. “Being a teenager is hard…” thought Conner.
Halfway through, he was done. It was not because he didn’t care. Caring takes energy. River was just exhausted. All he dreamed about was crawling back into his bed and take a really long nap. He told his parents that he wanted to leave, but his parents made him stay and finish the walk. His parents insisted he would understand this once he was older, but he truly did not understand how.
Has any of your Sims successfully completed volunteering? Or have they wanted to give up before it was done as well?
🚀 Geek Con Glow‑Up
Sienna hit Geek Con with Zoe Patel. She put in work on a rocket. For her, it was about so much more than just the project.
Geek Con was a rare pause from the noise of everyday life, a space where ambition didn’t need explaining and curiosity was the point. Standing beside Zoe, Sienna slipped easily into that version of herself that thrives on focus and creation. The one who isn’t just chasing success, but building it piece by piece.
Working on the rocket felt symbolic. Precision, patience, purpose—everything she’s been learning to balance lately. While her world is full of emotional highs and sudden disruptions, this was different. Calm. Grounded. It’s a reminder that her mind is just as powerful as her voice. She doesn’t have to choose a single path to be impressive. For a few hours, it wasn’t about family expectations or complicated relationships or what comes next. It was about problem-solving and collaboration. There is a quiet satisfaction in watching something take shape. This happens because she put her hands—and her heart—into it.
Ambition has always been part of who Sienna is. Geek Con didn’t create that drive—it sharpened it. And walking away from the rocket, she carried more than just experience with her. She carried proof: that she’s capable of dreaming big and seeing those dreams through.
Do you have any fun or horror stories at Geek Con? Tell me! 🙂
🎤 Career Arc: Singer Sienna is THRIVING
And speaking of winning… Sienna is absolutely thriving as a singer!
This isn’t luck. It’s momentum. It’s every late night, every setback, every moment she chose to keep going even when life demanded her attention elsewhere. Stepping on stage now doesn’t feel like a gamble—it feels like stepping into something she’s been building toward all along.
There’s a confidence in her presence that wasn’t always there. Not loud, not forced. Just steady. The kind that comes from knowing your voice is worthy of being heard and trusting yourself to carry the room. When she sings, everything else falls quiet—not because the world disappears, but because she finally knows where she belongs inside it.
Thriving doesn’t mean things are easy. It means she’s learned how to balance ambition with unpredictability, how to keep moving even when plans fall apart. Music has become her anchor—the place where effort turns into joy and talent turns into truth. This is Sienna in her element. Fully here. Fully capable. Main character energy, absolutely—and this time, she’s earned every note.
Any success stories with your Sim’s employment? I want to know the details! I can never decide what careers Sims should have!
💘 River’s Crush Era
River officially has his first crush. It is on a girl (who he feels is of his dreams) named Skyla. Somehow, against all odds and teenage anxiety, he actually got to hang out with her at a dance party.
It was one of those moments that feels small on the outside but huge on the inside. Loud music, flashing lights, bodies moving everywhere—and River, trying to look casual while his heart absolutely refused to cooperate. Standing near Skyla felt different than anything else he’s experienced so far. Nerve‑wracking. Exciting. Terrifying. All at once.
He didn’t suddenly become smooth or confident. He laughed a little too loud, overthought every step, and probably replayed the entire night in his head before it even ended. But he stayed. He showed up. And for a kid who’s still figuring out how to exist comfortably in new spaces, that mattered.
Hanging out with Skyla wasn’t about grand gestures or perfect moments—it was about proximity. About possibility. About realizing that feelings are starting to get bigger, messier, and harder to ignore.
It was adorable. Innocent. And absolutely the moment that marks the beginning of something River isn’t fully prepared for yet. Crushes don’t stay simple for long. River’s teen era is already proving one thing. Emotions can turn quiet moments into chaos.
How are your teenage love stories going?
🧹 Plot twist: We hired help
A butler officially entered the household—and honestly, it felt less like luxury and more like survival.
Life has been moving fast for this family. Sienna’s career has been demanding more of her time and energy than ever before. It pulls her toward opportunities she’s worked hard to earn. J, meanwhile, remains exactly who he’s always been—unbothered by convention, unapologetically himself, and operating on his own internal logic that rarely aligns with schedules or structure. As long as he has his daily time to have naked time, he is fine.
Bringing in a butler wasn’t about extravagance. It was about creating space. Space for Sienna to chase her ambitions without everything else piling up behind her. Space for the household to keep functioning even when chaos feels like the default setting. And, admittedly, space for J to continue doing J things—unrestricted, unsupervised, and very much on brand.
The shift was immediate. Responsibilities redistributed. Tension eased just enough to breathe. The house found a new rhythm, one that acknowledged a simple truth: you don’t have to do everything yourself to be strong. Sometimes strength looks like knowing when to ask for help—even if that help arrives neatly dressed and ready to manage the mess.
In a home defined by big personalities, growing ambitions, and constant change, the butler isn’t just staff. He’s a quiet acknowledgment that this family is evolving—and doing whatever it takes to keep up.
Do you all have butlers in your Sim’s homes?
👀 And then… Mickey.
Because as if life wasn’t already spicy enough, Mickey asked Sienna on a date—and she said yes.
Saying yes felt easy. Inviting, even. Mickey represented something different—curiosity, attention, the thrill of being seen outside the roles she’s been carrying for so long. For once, the future didn’t feel mapped out. It felt open. Sienna has secretly been fantasizing about Mickey for awhile. She even wakes up in the mornings, remembering dreams about Mickey that are not so PG. Accepting this felt like a no brainer to Sienna!
The date itself started with promise. Conversation flowed, laughter came naturally, and for a moment, Sienna let herself exist without expectations pressing in from every direction. But somewhere along the way, that familiar pull returned. It was the quiet tension between who she is becoming and everything she already holds. She kept thinking about J and how this would hurt him and their relationship that they have held on to for so long.
She didn’t stay the whole time. Not because the date was bad, or because the connection wasn’t there, but because staying suddenly felt heavier than leaving. Responsibilities lingered in the back of her mind. Questions she wasn’t ready to answer yet sat just beneath the surface. Walking away early wasn’t rejection—it was honesty. A recognition that even in moments of excitement, Sienna is still navigating a life full of overlapping commitments and complicated emotions. She’s learning that choosing herself sometimes means stepping back before things go too far, before curiosity turns into consequence.
The yes still mattered. The date still mattered. But so did the choice to leave when her instincts told her to. And if anything, that unfinished ending only added another layer to what’s unfolding—because nothing about Sienna’s story is simple anymore. This was something she promised to herself that she would never let J know. This was just something that would ruin their marriage that she felt was too important.
Do you all think Sienna should have stayed on the date? Or did she make the correct decision leaving?
And that’s where things stand—for now
So yes—there were wins, stumbles, early exits, and more than a little chaos. But that’s how growth shows up around here. New phases are beginning, old habits are being tested, and no one is done surprising anyone yet.
On the Sim Side of Susan, the middle of the story is exactly where things get interesting.
The Sim Side of Susan 
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