#008 Middle School Meltdowns (Theirs and Mine): How I Rebuilt Our Parenting Strategy

Let’s talk about middle school.

The hormones.

The eye rolls.

The moody silence one second and emotional chaos the next.

When my two boys hit that stage, I felt like someone had swapped out my kids overnight. Suddenly, I was living with two sleepy-eyed, snack-demanding, can’t-wake-up-in-the-morning teenagers-in-training—and I had no idea what hit me.

And when I lost it (because of course I did), the guilt was next-level. One day I’d feel like I was managing okay, and the next I was crying in the laundry room thinking, Am I totally failing as a mom?

The Turning Point: One Piece of Advice That Changed Everything

I talked to other moms, hoping for advice that wasn’t a lecture. Most of what I got was either dismissive—“This too shall pass”—or judgmental—“You really shouldn’t lose your temper.”

But one comment finally stuck. A friend said:

“They’re working to grow up and become adults.”

And just like that, I saw things differently. They weren’t pushing my buttons for fun. They were confused, tired, and trying to figure themselves out.
And I needed to adjust.

What Actually Worked for Us

I didn’t overhaul everything overnight, but I did rebuild my approach one step at a time. These were the pieces that helped us reconnect and restore peace:

1. I named my goal as a mom. I stopped parenting from panic and started parenting with purpose.

2. I rediscovered who my boys were becoming. I leaned into their evolving interests instead of resisting the change.

3. I shifted household responsibilities. Their chores grew with them—so did their independence.

4. We redefined discipline. Less punishment, more consequence and communication.

5. We created new agreements. The top value in our home became open, honest communication.

6. I stopped reacting. I worked hard to create a safe space where they could tell me anything—without bracing for my explosion.

We Didn’t Just Survive It—We Strengthened Our Bond

It wasn’t smooth. It wasn’t perfect.
But it was real, and it was strategic.

My boys saw that I was trying. And you know what? They met me there. We came out stronger—unbreakable, actually.

And I want the same for you.

If you’re walking through a tough season and wondering if you’re doing any of this right…

👉 Download the free ebook: How to Create Family

You’ll learn how to lead your home with clarity—even when parenting feels overwhelming.