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. Jason touched her hand—maybe on purpose.
  24. I offered to call Jason’s dad to find out.
  25. I wouldn’t let her eat 24 pizza rolls as a snack.
  26. I bought the wrong kind of energy drink.
  27. I posted an on Instagram Stories.
  28. I spoke.
  29. I wouldn’t let her be a “sexy” anything for Halloween.
  30. I didn’t think “everyone does it” was a good enough reason.
  31. They won’t let her take her phone on the fall retreat.
  32. Someone cropped her out of their Instagram photo.
  33. I took her phone and made her go outside.
  34. I am still embarrassing.

What would you add to the list? Let me know in the comments below!

Parenting Your Middle Schooler

You have approximately 936 weeks from the time your child is born until he or she graduates from high school. It goes by fast, and kids change and grow quickly. It’s as if they shift or move on just as you’re starting to figure them out. It all makes the responsibility to shape a child’s faith and character feel overwhelming.

In a concise and interactive way, the Middle School Phase Guides simplify what you need to know about middle schoolers in general and gives you a place to discover more about your middle schooler—so you can make the most of this phase.

Releasing July 18, 2017. Available now for pre-order.