Every parent of elementary, middle school, highschool, and college student should print this out and tack it to their wall. So wise!
I had to laugh about the slang. Just yesterday our pastor mentioned that even if you know the slang, don't use it. LOL I don't know the slang but I did hear 'Ohio' used the other day and wondered, "what on earth"? Great article, Caitlin.
There is so much wisdom here! As someone whose kids just finished middle school, I can say it’s true! I like the point that drama isn’t gendered. And there is a gradual growth of independence in middle school to the point that parents’ roles change.
Lemme ask you this Caitlin on the point of meanness, because I'm genuinely conflicted.. I want other kids to be a bit mean to my kids when/if have them God willing, because I want them to navigate the world on their own in these moments, and realize that there will be moments when they will have to defend/protect themselves.. I don't want harm (obviously) to any kids or mine, but I feel like we protect kids wayyyyyy too much these days.. When we were kids we fought a lot (I wasn't a good fighter), but I saw it happen in my schools a lot, and I feel like sometimes we rob kids from learning of being kids by being this protective.. What do you think?
Even when kids graduate and become adults and work in the grown-up world, the ability to fight without getting hurt or hurting someone else is a critical life skill. I'm not talking physical (at least I hope not) but how to stand up for what is right and doing the right thing when others don't care. We all need emotional intelligence like Caitlin wrote about here.
I certainly don't want my kids to experience bullying, and the line between kids being mean and kids being bullies is so fine. That said, it has been an important lesson for all my kids to learn to navigate people who are unpleasant or don't like them. For some of my children this is easier than others. Even more importantly to me, I want my children to learn resilience. And as much as we hope people will be kind, they are not.
Very to-the-point and insightful about the Middle School pressures on kids and parents. Coming from a home-schooling background, you were no doubt as clueless as someone coming from a different country. Keep up these stories!!
Very wise counsel. I could have used this when my kids were in middle school and imagine one day I will be applying it with my grandchildren.
Thank you.
Me too!
Every parent of elementary, middle school, highschool, and college student should print this out and tack it to their wall. So wise!
I had to laugh about the slang. Just yesterday our pastor mentioned that even if you know the slang, don't use it. LOL I don't know the slang but I did hear 'Ohio' used the other day and wondered, "what on earth"? Great article, Caitlin.
There is so much wisdom here! As someone whose kids just finished middle school, I can say it’s true! I like the point that drama isn’t gendered. And there is a gradual growth of independence in middle school to the point that parents’ roles change.
Being a parent requires be adaptable doesn’t it?
yes!
Lemme ask you this Caitlin on the point of meanness, because I'm genuinely conflicted.. I want other kids to be a bit mean to my kids when/if have them God willing, because I want them to navigate the world on their own in these moments, and realize that there will be moments when they will have to defend/protect themselves.. I don't want harm (obviously) to any kids or mine, but I feel like we protect kids wayyyyyy too much these days.. When we were kids we fought a lot (I wasn't a good fighter), but I saw it happen in my schools a lot, and I feel like sometimes we rob kids from learning of being kids by being this protective.. What do you think?
Even when kids graduate and become adults and work in the grown-up world, the ability to fight without getting hurt or hurting someone else is a critical life skill. I'm not talking physical (at least I hope not) but how to stand up for what is right and doing the right thing when others don't care. We all need emotional intelligence like Caitlin wrote about here.
I certainly don't want my kids to experience bullying, and the line between kids being mean and kids being bullies is so fine. That said, it has been an important lesson for all my kids to learn to navigate people who are unpleasant or don't like them. For some of my children this is easier than others. Even more importantly to me, I want my children to learn resilience. And as much as we hope people will be kind, they are not.
Very to-the-point and insightful about the Middle School pressures on kids and parents. Coming from a home-schooling background, you were no doubt as clueless as someone coming from a different country. Keep up these stories!!
Definitely clueless.