ten ways to manage pre-adolescence

Ha! Did that title fool you into thinking that I actually know how to manage roller coasters of emotions?

To be honest, I actually thought I was doing pretty well at that task with my four older kids.

Or maybe I just forgot. You know how you forget stuff like how tough it is to be pregnant until you are eight months in and you can’t sleep and you’re just so dang anxious to meet that baby you can hardly stand it?

Anyway, I’m in the thick of this pre-adolescence thing right about now. Some parts I get right, sometimes purely by accident. It reminds me of those miraculous nights when my babies were tiny and they actually slept through the night. I would wake up completely refreshed feeling like I won the lottery.

I remember so very well trying to determine why they had slept so well. The next night I would painstakingly work to remember the exact process of the night before…use the same blanket, swaddle just so, I’d feed that baby just how I would remember I did the night before, and tiptoe out just sure all my hard work would give me another night with good sleep. Only to wake from my slumber an hour later, back to the starting line.

Well, that’s kind of how this pre-adolescent time is going with this girl of mine:

Oh there are some good times. Times when I am a “durable object” patient as can be with outbursts. There are times when I can get that iron will to bend enough to try something new and she comes out victorious. Times when all the stars align and that smile comes out and brightens all the world around.

But then there are the times when I can’t do anything right to save my soul.

So, I’ve been collecting little “tips” that work along the way. And I’m sharing them here so I can remember them. Most of these ones are from a little conference on social technology of all places. I wish I could give credit to someone in particular but these are my notes from a couple really good talks:

1) When kids are upset, have them drink a glass of water. This allows time to slow down and internalize feelings for you and for your child. Maybe I need to drink more water…

2) Instead of asking yes or no questions, start more with something like this: “Tell me more about…”

3) Give them their dignity. Help them make their voice heard. I LOVE the repenting bench for getting kids to talk and articulating feelings as one example. They keep their dignity as they discuss and take ownership of their actions (I wrote all about the repenting bench HERE).

4) Let them be involved in the “rules.” Ask them for their input. “When this happens, how should I react? What do you think is a fair natural consequence when one of us makes a mistake?”

5) Help them transform feelings of frustration rather than transmit them to all those around them. An underdeveloped brain (that of a pre-adolescent child) cannot transform easily. Come up with a strategy to help.

6) Use the formula LML (“Let Me Listen”) and really just listen, offering minimal input.

7) In order to really connect, we need this formula: V+V=C (“Vulnerability + Validation = Connection) We need to let our kids feel safe being vulnerable when they talk. Which means we can’t jump in and judge or try to fix. Like I said back in this post about teenagers back HERE, we need to be ok to stand back and watch the waves of the rollercoasters that come with all those hormones bouncing around in their bodies. We need to set and example of letting ourselves be vulnerable right along with them.

8) We need to not try to pull them out of the “holes” they sometimes find themselves in. We need to get right in there with them and validate how they’re feeling. Let them figure out how to pull themselves out.

9) Show them that you see them. I’m not talking about seeing them physically there, I’m talking about SEEING them. Seeing them for who they are. Seeing their problems and worries are real. Seeing that they are trying. A friend once pointed out to me the beauty of this picture of Christ many years ago:

It’s been one of my favorites ever since.

My friend pointed out how Christ is really THERE with those children as evidenced by those hands cradling that child’s face. I have taken that to heart with Lucy and even my older kids sometimes. I feel like it helps so much with her moods when I take her face in my hands and look her right in the eye, hopefully spilling out my love to her and letting her know I am THERE.

I love this picture from Max’s wedding where you can see that eye contact in the background…see us back there on the right?:

Ok, not quite hands on her face, but you get the idea. I hope she feels heard. (and I think Abby’s feeling “heard” by her dad in that pic too…never too old to want to have your parent look at you with all that adoration. 🙂

10) Appreciate the moments. I’ve long been a believer that there can be a bazillion tough, excruciating moments, but that if we stop to let the beautiful ones sink in, they have the power to outweigh all the tough ones a hundred fold. I LOVE how beautifully Rachel Nielson explains this principle in the I Am Mom Summit over HERE (if you’re not registered you can still register over HERE for a few more days. So many gems in that thing!) Rachel’s is one of those talks I’ve been thinking about a lot over the last week. She is so good!

I’d love to hear other ways people have found to stay even keel with all these hormones running haywire around their homes. Often we talk about girls having these emotional upheavals but I know it’s very true for boys as well, sometimes in just different ways. And I know there are so many good parenting ideas out there. Please share!

11 comments

Barb March 20, 2019 - 3:55 pm

Man, I needed to read this today. My oldest is ten and we are in the thick of preteen emotions. I love these tips. One thing that has helped me is empowering him as much as possible, he feels better and has more self esteem when he feels needed! And for me, I am focusing on connecting with him more, so our "well" is full and we can weather the storms.

Shawni March 30, 2019 - 12:03 am

Yes I love that thought. They need to feel empowered to do something with those emotions. Dealing with the bad ones and shining with the good.

Robin March 20, 2019 - 9:38 pm

Good stuff, as always! My oldest is 11 (almost 12). He just got awarded the outstanding student award for our school last night and as we were sitting there at that banquet with him I just got overwhelmed with what a good kid he is. I started wondering how often I tell him I appreciate him. He is such a good kid. We get so caught up with what they should be doing or what they are not doing that we forget to focus on what they are doing and letting them know. I also, need to slow down my whirlwind of life and try some of these gems you just posted!

PS is it possible for my 8 yr old daughter to be in her preteens? Sometimes I wonder, I hear girls are earlier than boys….ha!

Shawni March 30, 2019 - 12:06 am

I think it is! I think one of my kids became an official "pre-teen" when she was two! Ha! And sometimes I think my one boy was moodier than some of my girls. I love your thought about remembering to tell them all the things we appreciate and love about them. Love doing this to tell them more personally: https://www.71toes.com/2010/04/talents.html

Holly Decker March 20, 2019 - 11:25 pm

Fabulous insights, thank you!

Kerstin March 21, 2019 - 8:27 am

I have a toddler and yet I have one suggestion, because it applies to both: Remind yourself that their brain isn't fully developed yet and that the tantrums and emotional upheavals are supposed to happen. It's through tantrums and emotional upheavals that the brain develops. That reminder gives me patience. Not always, but more often than not.

Shawni March 30, 2019 - 12:07 am

Absolutely so true. Sometimes we expect them to know and act adult when that just isn't real.

Jill March 22, 2019 - 4:58 pm

Needed this so much! Since my oldest turned ten I swear a switch was flipped and ALL. The. DRAMA. Which I was not prepared for because she is my least dramatic child. But we are getting there. Thanks for the tips!

Jess M March 22, 2019 - 10:06 pm

Thank you for the tips 🙂

Jonathan and Linsi March 27, 2019 - 5:49 am

My oldest is 11 and feels everything deeply and we’ve been navigating the preteen emotions for a couple of years. One of the best things for him has been hearing me tell him that I felt the same feelings he’s feeling and it’s okay. I think kids feel isolated as they have new feelings that they don’t quite understand and hearing that they are understood is a relief and a force for bonding. It also helps for me to relate to his mistakes rather than just offering advice, so he sees that we parents mess up too and it’s not the end of the world; he’s going to turn out just fine. I think it’s calming for kids and relieves anxiety when they feel understood and accepted just as they are.

Shawni March 30, 2019 - 1:34 am

Such a valuable tool to really make kids feel understood. And to realize we all make mistakes every day. Thanks for the input.

ten ways to manage pre-adolescence

life experiences

Apricot Chicken…and some good soups

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