Middle Years with Bridget KerMorris

Do you ever feel like you’re constantly defending your parenting? Your middle schooler says, “That’s not fair!” and suddenly you’re explaining, justifying, presenting evidence, and reminding them what happened three months ago . . . only to realize you’re somehow arguing your case to a twelve-year-old. If so, you’re not alone. In this episode, we explore why middle schoolers and their siblings bec...

Have you ever looked at your middle schooler and quietly wondered: "I love my child . . . why is it so hard to like them right now?" If so, this episode is for you. In one of the most honest conversations I've had on the podcast, I answer a vulnerable question from a mom who feels hurt, disconnected, and ashamed that she's struggling to like her 13-year-old son. Together, we&ap...

Content Note: This episode includes discussion of depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideation in the context of supporting LGBTQIA+ youth. If you're listening with children in the car or this topic feels especially tender, you may want to skip this episode or listen on your own first. Pride Month felt like the right time to have a conversation that so many parents are quietly wondering about...

Friendships can feel like the hardest part of parenting a middle schooler. One day your daughter seems confident and grounded. The next, her mood, interests, or self-esteem seem completely tied to what her friends think. In this episode, we're talking about what friendship drama is really about, why peer relationships suddenly carry so much emotional weight during adolescence, and how to help...

Your middle schooler is smart, capable, funny, and insightful . . . so why are they struggling with things that seem like they should be able to do? In this episode, Bridget answers a parent question about a seventh grader who is capable but has stopped trying in a certain class at school. Along the way, she explores a question most parents never think to ask: What is it costing this child to try?...

Technology might be one of the hardest parts of parenting middle schoolers because technology asks us to lead through uncertainty. In this episode, Bridget answers two questions from parents who are struggling with phones, screen time, pornography exposure, social media, and the pressure to help their children belong in a digital world that often feels overwhelming. Together, we'll explore wh...

In the very first episode of Middle Years, Bridget answers a question from a mom whose sixth-grade daughter was furious with her after a difficult parenting decision. When her daughter skipped volleyball practice and asked her mom to send an email that wasn't truthful, the mom found herself wrestling with a question so many middle school parents face: Should I step in and help, or should I le...

A mom discovers that her 12-year-old son may have his first crush, but he insists he's "too young to date." So what do you do when you know something about your middle schooler that they haven't chosen to share with you? In this episode, Bridget explores the difference between privacy and secrecy, why connection isn't measured by how much our children tell us, and how to b...

Most parents of middle schoolers are trying so hard to get it right. We want to stay connected without hovering, help without overreacting, and raise a kid who feels deeply loved and also capable in the world. Even with the best intentions, these middle years can be tough and it can start to feel like everyone else got a parenting manual you somehow missed. In Middle Years, Bridget KerMorris answe...