How did I get so lucky? As a sister to 5, with no brothers, you would think I would have this girl thing down.

In many ways after 20+ years at the secondary level, I do. But it is different when it is one of your own. They told me that would happen.

As girls meander the abyss of what we call “tween” and “teenhood”, it often looks much different than that of boys. The non-verbals, the exclusion,
the gossip and rumors. It seems no one is held harmless from this behavior in their social groups.

As a mom to a new 11 year old, and an up and coming 10 year old, the age difference is 11.5 months, but the expanse between them is now vast.

Her legs are longer than her torso, her hair is now important, and she is no longer a little girl….until bedtime when she still wants to be tucked in.

What started as doors being shut, are now doors slightly slamming. No one is allowed in the bathroom either. And every so often, I hear Beyonce songs shrilling out of the door like she is her back up singer.

This is an exciting time for her with the passage into middle school, but it is not for the faint of heart. Lots of tears as of late as the finality of school sets in. Friends are swapping friends, who is going to what school next year. You name it, at any moment the demons can creep in creating a huge shift in attitude and grace. I often tell parents that call me this is the “Come here, Go Away” phase of life….spray some Teflon on yourselves, let it slide, and hold on tight.

Listen in as Dr. Gurian takes this subject head on as we look at the current world and wonder of our girls. Off to get some PAM spray myself!