Middle school is an odd time. I say odd because there isn’t really another adjective I can use to explain how weird my discussions with my middle school son, String Bean, have become.
And the car has become the place for these odd talks.
Long gone are the car discussions about the merits of Wendy’s nuggets over McDonald’s McNuggets. Or the chats about the zillion unique Pokemon characters (Legendary ones versus morphed ones, etc.) and how important each one is to the game. No. These car conversations are now replaced by talks about social skills and, gulp, dating.
I should preface – String Bean is in 6th grade. I still recall playing Barbies in 6th grade. I don’t remember having a boyfriend or calling a boy’s house or being at all interested in the opposite sex.
Times they are a changin’.
This past car conversation proved very interesting. String Bean and I had just left the community theater and I was running one of the middle school girls, who is in the musical with us, home. She is in 8th grade. String Bean is smitten with her and, basically, wouldn’t lend a word to the conversation.
So I led it and told her that String Bean and I were going to go home and try to catch an episode of The Family Guy. This is something he wasn’t allowed to watch until he hit middle school status, so we watch it together (mostly in case of any questions that may come up!)
She laughed and said that it was a funny show.
String Bean sat there and said nothing, but his body language said it all. I had done the worst thing a parent can do: embarrassed him.
We chatted more, and finally arrived at her home. I waited until she went inside before pulling out of the driveway.
The silent middle child sitting in the car became quite chatty. He asked me how I talked to people so easily. I told him practice. I also told him the biggest secret of all: ask THEM about themselves. It works like magic.
He took all of it in and seemed completely content by the time we reached our home.
About 10 minutes later, he got a text on his iPod from the 8th grade girl. It said: “Turned on the TV and The Family Guy was on. Thought of you two.”
Needless to say, String Bean didn’t stop grinning all night.
Awe! What a great story!
Thanks! I am sure there will be more like this soon. There are many questions being asked… Hopefully I will have answers! 😉
Sixth grade? Oh my. 🙂
And just two weeks ago, he started 7th grade! I can’t believe how time flies. 😦
❤ ❤ ❤
All communication between a child and a parent is good. Keep it flowing.
Nice that you two can have those conversations. The minute I mention the word “girl” to either of my teenage sons, they shut down, too shy to even go there. I suspect when they get girlfriends, I’ll be the last to know!
I think my streak with him is ending. Seventh grade started and he won’t tell me anything. 😦
Maybe we need to go on a long car ride! Lol
Oh, that boy is handsome! Sweet story 🙂
Awe, thanks! I think he is a cute kid! 😉 I am hoping this school year will be good for him.
Soooo sweet. Thank you for sharing this story. Made my day.
You are too kind! I have a few drafts of other random stories from last spring and I’m sure I will have more this fall. Middle school is crazytown. Lol!
Ooooh, a text! I love your advice to him – wish someone had told me that in 6th grade!!! Good job, mama.
Thanks so much! Middle school is so completely awkward – I just hope I can ease some of his angst with communicating. Maybe by 9th grade he will be comfortable talking to girls. 😉
Love this! Lucky you he’s talking to you. I loved the car times as it was such a confined space- they couldn’t escape. The most fun was listening in on their conversations with friends in the car. So much lost now when all they do is text!
I agree, texting and being constantly on technology does have so many drawbacks. The car seems to be one of the only places where I have his attention!
You were golden on that one! It would be nice if that happened every time.
Thanks! He sometimes opens up. I am curious as to what this school year holds for him (and if we can continue some of the sacred car conversations!)
Too cute. And great advice on having a conversation with a girl! 🙂
Thank you! Hopefully he learns a little from me! 😉
I was just talking with my sixth grader’s best buddy’s mom. She confided that her son has already decided who he’s taking to the prom. Meanwhile, my son’s head isn’t turning yet by girls. I know it will, but in a lot of ways he’s more immature than his peers (not uncommon with boys with ADHD (I don’t know about girls)). So, for a while I’m breathing easy, not looking forward to the emotional turmoil over girls, just yet.