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35 Reasons My Middle Schooler Might Be Freaking Out

We love our middle schoolers...even if our mere existence is painfully embarrassing for them. What would you add to the list?
35 Reasons My Middle Schooler Might Be Freaking Out

This post was written by Kristen Ivy, Director of Messaging at Orange and Director of The Phase Project.

I recently stumbled across Jason Good’s 46 Reasons My Three-Year-Old Might Be Freaking Out.

  1. His socks are on wrong.
  2. His lip tastes salty.
  3. His shirt has a tag on it.
  4. The car seat is weird. . .
    (Read the rest of the list on Jason’s blog.)

The first thing I thought when I read the list was how much I wanted to share it with anyone I know who has a preschooler. Because let’s be honest, this is exactly what it’s like to live with a three-year-old.

The next thing I thought was (and I’m not sure why), “I wonder what this list sounds like for the parent of a middle schooler?” Since three-year-olds and eleven-year-olds have a few similarities, I texted a few of my friends who spend a lot of time around middle schoolers, and we pulled together this follow-up list.

35 Reasons My Middle Schooler Might Be Freaking Out

  1. I woke her up on time.
  2. Her school won’t let her wear leggings as pants.
  3. I drive a minivan.
  4. Zayn left One Direction.
  5. I don’t know which one Zayn is.
  6. I asked a question.
  7. I made her get out of the shower after 30 minutes.
  8. I didn’t know she doesn’t like pancakes anymore.
  9. I said I liked her hair today.
  10. “No one” noticed her hair today.
  11. Brian forgot their 3-week anniversary.
  12. Mitchell doesn’t wear socks.
  13. I volunteered to chaperone the class trip.
  14. I picked her up where her friends could see me.
  15. I confiscated her selfie stick.
  16. I posted a #TBT pic of our family
  17. Ben sat next to Sarah today.
  18. I don’t know who Ben or Sarah are.
  19. I asked about her day.
  20. I didn’t ask about her day.
  21. I am embarrassing.
  22. She and Kelly wore the same shirt today.
  23. She can’t find the right emoji.
  24. Jason touched her hand—maybe on purpose.
  25. I offered to call Jason’s dad to find out.
  26. I wouldn’t let her eat 24 pizza rolls as a snack.
  27. I bought the wrong kind of energy drink.
  28. I got a Snapchat.
  29. I spoke.
  30. I wouldn’t let her be a “sexy” anything for Halloween.
  31. I didn’t think “everyone does it” was a good enough reason.
  32. They won’t let her take her phone on the fall retreat.
  33. Someone cropped her out of their Instagram photo.
  34. I took her phone and made her go outside.
  35. I am still embarrassing.

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