Man, this parenting gig is a trip, isn’t it 😉. One minute they’re cute little fart machines toddling around, the next they’re all grown up, in middle school and definitely not wanting you to call them cute anymore… or even look at them, for that matter. Yikes! Time flies faster than the latest Tiktok craze, huh?

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my kiddo but I wasn’t prepared for all these… changes. The mood swings, the constant screen time, the arguments that pop up out of nowhere… it’s a roller coaster. I don’t mind toughing it out and learning along the way but idk, some advice from parents who’ve been in these trenches before sure would be nice!

Have any of you guys dealt with this phase? How did you handle it when puberty hit like a freight train and all of a sudden your sweet little kiddo is a snarling bundle of hormones? Is there some secret magic button to making them talk to you? Share please, ahaha.

Oh and not to mention - the online school situation with the pandemic isn’t helping. Between trying to keep them focused on their schoolwork and my own work, it’s like stepping on a Lego without socks every. single. day. Got any tips on juggling that too?

TIA (thanks in advance) for any advice, suggestions, shared experiences, and if nothing else 🤔

Oh, I’ve been there! Puberty hit my son like a ton of bricks & I was about as prepared as a deer in the headlights 😵. A lot of patience, some deep breaths, and picking battles wisely seemed to do the trick for me. Also, found that acknowledging their mood swings out loud in a non-judgmental way would sometimes defuse the situation (kinda like a “I see you” thing). As for online school & work , man, it’s like a circus here with juggling stuff. What helps us is co-work time - we all sit and do our work/study together. A little solidarity goes a long way! Hang in there—it gets easier, I promise!

Absolutely with you there, seems like a tornado hits when teens hit puberty, huh? Loving the “I see you” method, I remember using the same to my daughter. She’d roll her eyes but it always seemed to take the edge off. Online school and work, yeah, feels like trying to walk and juggle at the same time. The co-work time seems like a good idea. Mates of mine have been adopting similar methods, they say it’s helping the kids settle. All we can do is hang in there and remember, “this too shall pass”. Stay strong!

Teen years can definitely be a whirlwind, can’t they? It’s like one day they’re tiny, cuddly and need us for everything, next day they’re all mood swings and wanting space. Trying to hold on to sanity while navigating through this tsunami, huh. Love your “I see you” approach, think I’ll give that a try with my son.

Like you said, online school and work feels like trying to perform in a circus, man. But this idea of co-working time is a neat one! Makes them feel more involved and helps to amp up productivity, right? Heard a friend mention something similar, it’s working for them. Good shout!

Remember when they were babies and everyone used to say, “enjoy it, they grow up so fast”. Now we’re here like, “right, and when does this too pass again?” Haha. But heck yeah, let’s hang in there.

More power to us all dealing with teens!

Oh, I totally get where you're coming from! Those tween years can be such a wild ride. I remember when my kid hit that stage; it felt like we were speaking different languages. What helped us was setting aside some one-on-one time, even if it was just a short walk or a quick chat over breakfast. It seemed to open up opportunities for them to talk without feeling pressured.

As for the online school struggle, creating a daily routine was a lifesaver. We made a schedule together, which helped them feel more in control and less overwhelmed. And don't forget to cut yourself some slack—balancing work and parenting is no small feat, especially these days. Hang in there! 😊