Anonymous
01/26/2026 21:18
Subject: Middle school behavior - pics, group texts, social media
what has been said AND encourage activities with kids not in his school aslo. always safety in numbes and options.
Anonymous
01/20/2026 12:50
Subject: Middle school behavior - pics, group texts, social media
Anonymous wrote:I’d say some version of this:
“This happens to adults, too. I’ll scroll Instagram, see a dinner or a trip or a ‘best night ever!’ post, and realize… huh, I wasn't invited. It stings for about 30 seconds (sometimes even a little longer), and then life goes on. This is, unfortunately, a very transferable life skill.”
Validate the feeling without assigning meaning. Hurt ≠ rejected ≠ secretly hated. Sometimes it’s just… logistics, parents, numbers, vibes, or one kid whose mom planned something messy.
Also, this is a great moment for Mel Robbins' ‘Let Them’ approach. Let them have their gathering. Let them post the pics. Let your kid feel annoyed/sad for a beat. None of it actually requires action.
What I would do:
- Normalize it
- Remind him that this happens at every age
- Acknowledge that it (even momentarily) sucks
- Help him mute the group text if needed
- Then move on with your life so he can move on with his
Small school + 13 + group texts + social media = this will not be the last time. The goal isn’t preventing hurt; it’s teaching him not to build a whole story around it.
And quietly? You’re doing the right thing by checking your feelings at the door. Kids recover faster than parents if we let them.
Truly excellent - I’m even finding this post helpful as an adult 😂
Anonymous
01/20/2026 12:46
Subject: Middle school behavior - pics, group texts, social media
Anonymous wrote:I’d say some version of this:
“This happens to adults, too. I’ll scroll Instagram, see a dinner or a trip or a ‘best night ever!’ post, and realize… huh, I wasn't invited. It stings for about 30 seconds (sometimes even a little longer), and then life goes on. This is, unfortunately, a very transferable life skill.”
Validate the feeling without assigning meaning. Hurt ≠ rejected ≠ secretly hated. Sometimes it’s just… logistics, parents, numbers, vibes, or one kid whose mom planned something messy.
Also, this is a great moment for Mel Robbins' ‘Let Them’ approach. Let them have their gathering. Let them post the pics. Let your kid feel annoyed/sad for a beat. None of it actually requires action.
What I would do:
- Normalize it
- Remind him that this happens at every age
- Acknowledge that it (even momentarily) sucks
- Help him mute the group text if needed
- Then move on with your life so he can move on with his
Small school + 13 + group texts + social media = this will not be the last time. The goal isn’t preventing hurt; it’s teaching him not to build a whole story around it.
And quietly? You’re doing the right thing by checking your feelings at the door. Kids recover faster than parents if we let them.
This is very good advice.
But also, get him off social media. No good can come from social media.
Anonymous
01/20/2026 12:34
Subject: Middle school behavior - pics, group texts, social media
Anonymous wrote:I’d say some version of this:
“This happens to adults, too. I’ll scroll Instagram, see a dinner or a trip or a ‘best night ever!’ post, and realize… huh, I wasn't invited. It stings for about 30 seconds (sometimes even a little longer), and then life goes on. This is, unfortunately, a very transferable life skill.”
Validate the feeling without assigning meaning. Hurt ≠ rejected ≠ secretly hated. Sometimes it’s just… logistics, parents, numbers, vibes, or one kid whose mom planned something messy.
Also, this is a great moment for Mel Robbins' ‘Let Them’ approach. Let them have their gathering. Let them post the pics. Let your kid feel annoyed/sad for a beat. None of it actually requires action.
What I would do:
- Normalize it
- Remind him that this happens at every age
- Acknowledge that it (even momentarily) sucks
- Help him mute the group text if needed
- Then move on with your life so he can move on with his
Small school + 13 + group texts + social media = this will not be the last time. The goal isn’t preventing hurt; it’s teaching him not to build a whole story around it.
And quietly? You’re doing the right thing by checking your feelings at the door. Kids recover faster than parents if we let them.
Thank you so much.
Anonymous
01/20/2026 12:31
Subject: Re:Middle school behavior - pics, group texts, social media
Social media has been insanely toxic for our children’s generation.
Anonymous
01/20/2026 12:27
Subject: Middle school behavior - pics, group texts, social media
I’d say some version of this:
“This happens to adults, too. I’ll scroll Instagram, see a dinner or a trip or a ‘best night ever!’ post, and realize… huh, I wasn't invited. It stings for about 30 seconds (sometimes even a little longer), and then life goes on. This is, unfortunately, a very transferable life skill.”
Validate the feeling without assigning meaning. Hurt ≠ rejected ≠ secretly hated. Sometimes it’s just… logistics, parents, numbers, vibes, or one kid whose mom planned something messy.
Also, this is a great moment for Mel Robbins' ‘Let Them’ approach. Let them have their gathering. Let them post the pics. Let your kid feel annoyed/sad for a beat. None of it actually requires action.
What I would do:
- Normalize it
- Remind him that this happens at every age
- Acknowledge that it (even momentarily) sucks
- Help him mute the group text if needed
- Then move on with your life so he can move on with his
Small school + 13 + group texts + social media = this will not be the last time. The goal isn’t preventing hurt; it’s teaching him not to build a whole story around it.
And quietly? You’re doing the right thing by checking your feelings at the door. Kids recover faster than parents if we let them.
“This happens to adults, too. I’ll scroll Instagram, see a dinner or a trip or a ‘best night ever!’ post, and realize… huh, I wasn't invited. It stings for about 30 seconds (sometimes even a little longer), and then life goes on. This is, unfortunately, a very transferable life skill.”
Validate the feeling without assigning meaning. Hurt ≠ rejected ≠ secretly hated. Sometimes it’s just… logistics, parents, numbers, vibes, or one kid whose mom planned something messy.
Also, this is a great moment for Mel Robbins' ‘Let Them’ approach. Let them have their gathering. Let them post the pics. Let your kid feel annoyed/sad for a beat. None of it actually requires action.
What I would do:
- Normalize it
- Remind him that this happens at every age
- Acknowledge that it (even momentarily) sucks
- Help him mute the group text if needed
- Then move on with your life so he can move on with his
Small school + 13 + group texts + social media = this will not be the last time. The goal isn’t preventing hurt; it’s teaching him not to build a whole story around it.
And quietly? You’re doing the right thing by checking your feelings at the door. Kids recover faster than parents if we let them.
Anonymous
01/20/2026 12:16
Subject: Middle school behavior - pics, group texts, social media
Just validate that it is rude and he will learn the lesson that he won't want to do this to others in the future. It can be shocking, but you will see starting in middle school that many parents see nothing wrong with this type of stuff. All you can do is to try to manage the situation on your own end.
Anonymous
01/20/2026 12:11
Subject: Middle school behavior - pics, group texts, social media
Seeking advice on a situation I suspect is very common. Son was not invited to a big gathering this weekend. It stung for him, but it happens…the kids at the gathering were posting pics on social media and sharing pics of them all together on a big group text that son is on (as well as others who I know were not invited). How to guide and support him on this kind of thing? Don’t do anything? Validate and try not to project my own feelings onto him? Anything you would or would not say or do? fwiw they are 13 and they go to a small school.