Ah, back to school already? Time to say goodbye to those lazy, sun-drenched summer days! Sure, those months had their share of worries—like your child forgetting their goggles, leaving a damp swimsuit in their bag, or getting sunburn on their nose because they wouldn’t apply sunblock. But let’s be honest: those summer stressors are nothing compared to what you might face as your child heads to middle school or high school. Don’t fret too much, though; not all worries are monumental—some are as small as mini Snickers, while others loom like king-size Hershey Bars.
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The Concern: Your middle-schooler may not enjoy the school lunches.
The Bigger Concern: They might find the vending machines way too tempting. -
The Concern: Your daughter worries about missing out on a classmate’s sleepover.
The Bigger Concern: She actually gets invited to a sleepover with a friend who just had lice. -
The Concern: Your son forgets to set his morning alarm.
The Bigger Concern: He sets it to a catchy tune like “Uptown Funk” instead. -
The Concern: Your daughter starts experimenting with makeup.
The Bigger Concern: She “borrows” your favorite eye shadow and lip gloss without asking. -
The Concern: Your daughter fears no one will ask her to the school dance.
The Bigger Concern: A boy actually asks her to the dance, and you have no idea what to say. -
The Concern: Your daughter might not be accepted into Honors Algebra.
The Bigger Concern: She gets in, and you suddenly find yourself struggling to help with her homework. -
The Concern: Your son becomes a couch potato after school.
The Bigger Concern: He suddenly wants you to drive him to baseball, hockey, and football practices. -
The Concern: Your daughter goes weeks without washing her hair.
The Bigger Concern: She decides to dye her hair a vibrant purple. -
The Concern: Your son needs braces.
The Bigger Concern: He requires braces, a retainer, a palate expander, and night headgear—yikes! -
The Concern: Your petite daughter might not make the cheerleading team.
The Bigger Concern: She makes the team and is chosen to be a “flyer”—talk about pressure! -
The Concern: Your son declares that he no longer likes playing the flute.
The Bigger Concern: He announces that trumpets are now his instrument of choice. -
The Concern: Your daughter spends too much time texting.
The Bigger Concern: She’s texting someone named “Romeo”—oh boy.
Feeling overwhelmed yet? Don’t be too hard on yourself; I’m right there with you. Remember when your kids started preschool? They made it through, and so did you! Now is the time to put on a brave face. Even with all these worries looming, it’s crucial to hide those fears from your kids. My best advice? Take those mini Snickers worries in stride, and tackle those king-size Hershey Bar worries one bite at a time. And yes, chocolate truly does help everything. Oh, and just in case, keep your favorite eye shadow out of reach!
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Summary
As a new school year begins, parents often face a range of concerns about their middle schoolers, from school lunches to social dynamics. While some worries may seem trivial, others can feel quite significant. It’s essential for parents to navigate these challenges with a positive mindset and to remember that their children have successfully faced transitions before.