Fresh Take: Judith Warner on What Grownups Get Wrong About Middle School

Published: May 7, 2021, 8 a.m.

b'Toddler Purgatory is launching this month! Help us support the launch of our new podcast by checking out the sneak-peek trailer and following now wherever you listen. Grab all the player links at toddlerpurgatory.com.\\xa0\\nJudith Warner\\u2019s book AND THEN THEY STOPPED TALKING TO ME: MAKING SENSE OF MIDDLE SCHOOL\\xa0investigates what can be a truly painful period in any adolescent\'s life. Warner explains that our "personal fable" is deeply affected by our own experiences during that developmental period, even if our memories may rely on flawed or incomplete information.\\nThat matters because it can affect how we parent our tweens as they enter the middle-school stage themselves. Are parents sometimes inadvertently reinforcing the narrative that middle school is a Thunderdome of social aggression?\\nIn this interview, Judith tells Amy the history of middle school, the brain science behind its intensity, and what parents can do to make their children\'s path through these years an easier one.\\nCheck out all of Judith Warner\'s books in our Bookshop store:\\xa0https://bookshop.org/shop/whatfreshhellcast\\n\\nSpecial thanks to this month\'s sponsors:\\xa0\\xa0\\nMagic\\xa0Spoon is breakfast cereal that\'s keto-friendly, gluten-free, grain-free, soy-free, low carb, and GMO-free. Go\\xa0to magicspoon.com/fresh to\\xa0grab the new limited edition Birthday Cake flavor today! And use code FRESH at\\xa0checkout to save\\xa0$5 off.\\nPublic Goods is the one-stop shop for high-quality everyday household essentials made from clean ingredients. Get $15 off your first Public Goods order, with no minimum purchase!\\xa0Go to publicgoods.com/fresh, or use the code FRESH at checkout.\\xa0\\nGreen Chef\\xa0is a USDA-certified-organic company with meal plans including Paleo, Plant Powered, Keto, and Balanced Living. Go to\\xa0greenchef.com/90laughing\\xa0and use code 90LAUGHING to get $90 off, including free shipping!\\nJane.com\\xa0is a boutique marketplace featuring the latest in women\\u2019s fashion, accessories, home decor, children\\u2019s clothing, and more. You will not believe the prices!\\xa0Visit\\xa0jane.com/laughing.\\nParade makes creative underwear and bralettes in a variety of sizes from extra small to 3 XL.\\xa0Supersoft, super-cute, and prices that start at $8! Get 25% off when you spend $40 or more at yourparade.com/wfh with code WFH.\\xa0\\nZocdoc has you covered! Whether you need a primary care physician, dentist, dermatologist, psychiatrist, eye doctor, or any other specialist, you can find top doctors at zocdoc.com.laughing.\\nWorkplace Comedy Podcast\\xa0is a hilarious new improv podcast set in a fictional water bottling company, hosted by Emmy Laybourne and Tracy Vilar and a lineup of amazing comedy guests. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts!\\nProse\\xa0is the healthy hair regimen with your name all over it!\\xa0\\xa0Get 15% off your first order today! Go to\\xa0prose.com/laughing.\\xa0\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices'