Adolescence: Scarier than Freddy Krueger

from Middle School Confessions on HBO Family

Think back to when you were in middle school.  

What were you doing, thinking, and feeling?  

I was listening to "sad song tapes" custom-made to induce a night's worth of sobbing.  I also made sure I avoided earning A's on my report card because apparently being smart also made a person a real loser.  My hair, teeth, and feet were ginormous, and I had a bad habit of falling in love with the meanest boys in school.

Whatever your middle school experience, it was probably anything but easy or simple.  We adults, myself included, tend to forget just how difficult those years were (or maybe we conveniently bury the memories because some are so horrific).  Whatever the case, it's important for any adult who works with young people to try to understand their problems, dreams, and fears.  We need to understand and respect their world.  This isn't to say that we should allow middle school kids to get away with anything they want.  Adolescents need rules, boundaries, and a structured environment. However, I do think we need to treat them as real people and, from what I've learned so far, most people just want to be heard.  If we freak out every time they try to share something of themselves with us, we will lose their trust and our ability to give them meaningful guidance throughout some of the most confusing years of their lives.

Middle School Confessions, an HBO documentary centered around this complex developmental stage, provides a window into the lives of modern adolescents.  I won't lie - it's really hard to watch.  It will probably make many adults angry, sad, and more than a little uncomfortable.  Watch it anyway. In it you will see tweens encounter sex, bullying, depression, drugs, alcohol, and violence.  Sounds fun, huh?  Watch it anyway.  In fact, I double-dog dare you to watch it with your kids (Rated TV14).  

At the very least, click here to read more about it and to find a schedule of showings on HBO Family.

Remember, it won't do us any good to pretend our middle schoolers are still little kids.  Let's talk to them, listen to them, and share our own experiences with them.  They might cringe, roll their eyes, even slam the door in our faces...but somewhere deep down they'll know we care and that we're throwing them a life line...and when they're ready, they just might be willing to grab on.