If you have a child in middle school, you know that they are in that awkward stage of development when they are no longer children but not yet adults--neither fish nor fowl. Boys grow out of their clothes quickly and girls want to wear hardly any clothes at all. They do not make rational decisions because their brains are on hiatus while hormones drive their thoughts and actions. Donna DeMarco draws on her thirty-plus years of experience as an educator and her time raising two middle school aged children to share tips to navigate this difficult period. Learn how to: anticipate what to expect during these transitional years; work with teachers to position your child for success in the classroom; and help your child develop good life habits. The author also highlights changes in your child's brain during these years, ways to create a stronger bond with your child, and how to cope with the whirlwind of emotions they'll experience during this time. Navigate the day-to-day difficulties of raising and guiding your middle-school child toward high school and beyond with this guidebook.