S2 EP 27 - PlainTalk: Give Kids a Break — Don’t You Forget About Me

Middle school can feel like a daily showdown until you flip one assumption: the kid isn’t the problem, the kid is the signal. We’re talking about the moments that make adults say “Seriously?” and why that reaction is understandable, but often aimed at the wrong target. When behavior goes sideways, we tend to put all the weight on a 12- or 13-year-old who is navigating hormones, identity, social pressure, and a brain that’s still building impulse control. That is not an excuse, it’s a roadmap....