Welcome to the Middle School Zone

“I’d love to help chaperone your field trip, Mrs. Acuña, but I’ve been forbidden to go,” Colin’s mom said sadly. “Apparently my son has reached the age where it’s embarrassing to have your mom around. Guess I’ll go hang out with my second-grader while he still loves me.”

Have you been caught off guard by changes in your child that mark the transition from childhood into early adolescence? You thought you had more time, but suddenly your 10- or 11-year-old is less like the child you know and more like someone you don’t even recognize. Welcome to the middle school zone — even if your child isn’t actually in middle school yet.

Most parents don’t know what’s “normal” at this stage. A middle schooler may act like a young adult one minute, and then revert to childish behaviors the next. Middle schoolers want to be understood, but they don’t have any better idea than their parents about what’s going on with their bodies, emotions or much else in this new stage of their lives.

These are critical and often challenging years; kids who have strong relationships with their parents during early adolescence have an easier time maintaining that connection during the high school years, when it’s more difficult to establish trust and rapport. Here are some practical ways to nurture a strong, positive relationship with your middle schooler:

Rethink Authority

“My parents want to control everything about my life. They tell me what to wear and what to eat and when to go to bed. Why can’t I make any of my own decisions?”

From the time our kids are born, we manage virtually everything for them. Bedtimes, menus, wardrobe — we make all these decisions. But once children reach 10 or 11 years old, this is no longer acceptable to them, leading to power struggles.

The fact that your children need you will not change. But how they need you constantly changes, especially during their journey from childhood to young adulthood. Early adolescence may be the time to transition from your role as “manager” to the role of “consultant.” You’re still in charge, but how you communicate your authority may make all the difference in how much cooperation you receive. Instead of delivering commands or ultimatums, try asking questions and making gentle suggestions. For example, “You’re not wearing that to school!” will likely lead to a battle. Instead, try, “You haven’t worn that in a while, have you? Doesn’t fit quite the way it used to. Go look in the mirror, and let’s talk about it.” Then you might ease sideways into a discussion about the appropriateness of what your child is wearing, especially if it’s gotten too tight or small.

Sometimes a consultant has to let the client make bad choices and live with the consequences. If it’s not a major issue of safety or morality, consider how much control you really need to hang onto. Try just listening and making a suggestion, and then step back to let your “client” make the final decision.

Acknowledge Their Fears

All the girls loved Mr. D., the basketball coach, and enjoyed signing a card to give to him at the end of the year. But when the question came up of who would present the card to him in front of the team, there were no volunteers. “I can’t get up in front of everybody,” one girl said. “What if I say something stupid?”

We asked middle schoolers to list their top fears. At first, they rattled off a standard list including parents dying, natural disasters, kidnappings and school shootings. But as we dug deeper, another list emerged, made up of fears that middle schoolers often don’t share with adults — or even each other — because they think they’re alone in feeling that way. At the top of that list? Looking stupid.

For middle schoolers, the fear of looking foolish — especially when they run the risk of being ridiculed by peers and not welcomed into the crowd — is one of the scariest things of all. They know that terrorist attacks and school shootings are rare, but not fitting in? That could happen to them tomorrow in the lunchroom!

What can you do about the fact that your middle schooler is more scared of being a social misfit than of facing a terrorist attack? First, don’t downplay their fear; it really is a paralyzing force in middle school. Keep in mind that middle schoolers want to be heard and understood, and use genuine empathy to acknowledge that these years can be difficult for everyone, but things will get better. Because middle schoolers suffer from extreme self-consciousness, even a small lapse in judgment can cause them embarrassment. To have a parent broadcasting that to anyone will leave a middle schooler writhing in agony or seething in anger. Just as we trust spouses and friends to keep confidences and not embarrass us, middle schoolers need to trust their parents will do the same.

And while reminding them how valuable they are may not change how they feel, consistently demonstrating the unconditional love that you — and God — have for them positively impacts how they see themselves.

Step Inside “the Bubble”

“I want to pray for my grandma; she’s having surgery.”

“When, and what for?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Will she stay in the hospital?”

“I have no idea.”

“How do you know she’s having surgery?”

“My mom said I’d have to ride home with my friend on the day of the surgery.”

It’s typical for middle schoolers to hear only the part of the conversation that applies to them. We call this “the Bubble,” and our advice to parents is to get used to it because it’s not going away any time soon. The Bubble is a survival technique that gives middle schoolers time and space to deal with . . . well, themselves.

Their physical changes are what we can see. But big changes are happening inside, too. Emotionally, middle schoolers feel like they have little control over mood swings. Intellectually, they’re thinking all sorts of new thoughts about who they are and where they fit into the big picture. Spiritually, they’re beginning to question some of what they used to take for granted. Between studying themselves in the mirror and reflecting on all that’s going on inside their hearts and heads, is it any wonder they barely notice the rest of us?

So are you just supposed to let them get away with going off into their own private world and ignoring the rest of us? Not completely. And not forever. But right now it’s their main method of self-protection. You can’t live inside your child’s Bubble — it’s strictly single-occupancy — but you should definitely be a regular visitor. Your child still needs you, in some ways more than ever.

Keep gently poking your head into the Bubble. Don’t go in to yell at your son about the mess he left behind after lunch. Instead, invite him to join you in the kitchen and see if he can figure out why you’re there. He’ll probably be surprised to see the open cupboard door, the open peanut butter jar and the open bread wrapper. Chances are good that once he does see them, he’ll clean them up without further prompting. When you give your daughter important information — “Dad will pick you up at 1 for an orthodontist appointment. Don’t forget your homework assignment.” — have her repeat it back to you. That way, you’ll know your words penetrated her Bubble. When she inconsiderately interrupts your conversation, point it out by saying, “I’m sure you didn’t mean to interrupt the important conversation I’m having.” She’ll probably be surprised to see there’s someone else talking to you!

Like a roller-coaster ride, the middle school years will have periods of turbulence followed by calmer spots. Our suggestion is to hold your middle schooler’s hand during the scary parts, high-five him during the exciting parts and try not to be caught off guard by the twists and turns. Though middle schoolers may act like they don’t want parents around, they are relieved to know we’re close by to be their stabilizers during the ups and downs of adolescence. Eventually, the track will smooth out, and everyone can take a deep breath and say, “Phew! We made it!”

Additional Tips for Parenting Your Middle Schooler

Could your middle schooler use a hygiene reminder?
As kids develop more adult-like bodies, they also develop more adult-like smells. Unfortunately, they don’t always have adult-like hygiene habits. To prevent too much awkwardness or embarrassment, create a code word to discreetly let your middle schooler know when it’s time for an armpit freshening.

Can they wear that?
Check out the school’s dress code for yourself rather than taking your middle schooler’s word for what it says. No parent enjoys spending big bucks on something only to learn that it can’t be worn to school!

Is middle school off to a rocky start?
It’s common for a middle schooler’s self-esteem to take a noticeable dive during the first few weeks of school. This is when your child may especially appreciate encouragement and empathy for what he or she is going through.

How much do grades matter?
Putting a lot of pressure on your middle schooler to get high grades can increase the temptation to use deceptive means to measure up to expectations. Add the strong influence of peer pressure, and even good students may be tempted to cheat. Instead of pressuring middle schoolers to get good grades, help them polish their study skills. This doesn’t mean letting kids get by with not trying or making excuses but rather giving them a chance take more responsibility for their own success and learn what it takes to keep themselves motivated and competent.

What can you do when your child isn’t “clicking” with a teacher?
Instead of resenting a teaching approach that does not play to your child’s learning style, help your child understand and value a variety of methods, preparing your son or daughter to confidently face a world of different personalities.

Should your child sign up for that team (or club or activity)?
At the beginning of the year, new and exciting activities beckon—and some students will be tempted to try them all. Before your middle schooler signs up to participate in a sport or club, get detailed information regarding the time commitment and financial commitment. Unlike elementary school, middle school teams practice almost every day, games involve traveling, and there may be major competitions later in the year that can take up entire weekends.

What helpful boundary should you establish ASAP?
Middle schoolers are often pressured by friends to have boy-girl parties. Making a rule such as “no boy-girl parties until you’re 16” will take the pressure off your middle schooler, and it will head off situations he or she isn’t prepared to handle, like games and activities that involve inappropriate coed interactions.

How can you get your child to study—without nagging?
Instead of nagging her to study, try a more subtle approach: “How should we celebrate when your science test is over?” You’ve planted a seed and allowed her to saunter off and pretend she was planning on studying all along. Mission accomplished, conflict avoided.

Has your middle schooler been asking tough questions about faith?
Middle schoolers are journeying through some intense self-discovery. Their whole world is beginning to shift and resettle, and it’s natural to develop doubts about the faith they’ve previously taken for granted. Wise parents will welcome the questioning as a sign that their children are beginning the process of personalizing their faith. If you don’t feel equipped to answer the tougher questions, seek help and advice from youth pastors, who are specially trained to deal with kids who are searching for answers.

Could this be making your middle schooler irritable?
Sudden growth spurts can cause fatigue. After all, it takes a lot of energy to grow that quickly. When your middle schooler seems grouchy or out of sorts for no reason, look for any recent physical changes. Is he taller? Did you just have to buy her new clothes or shoes because the old ones no longer fit? It could be that all of it’s related to the bad mood (and yawning) you’re seeing. That irritability might just disappear with a well-timed nap.