I taught middle school, and braces were really not the big deal they were when I grew up. It seems everybody has them, and the kids really get into picking different colors for the bands each time. All kids feel self-concious in general in middle school - it's just the stage they are in. Remind him of what he is good at and that all the other kids feel insecure too. He doesn't have to have a BFF in order to have good classmate friendships. Some boys really are just floaters - fit in with many groups, but not really personally connected to anyone. It took my oldest son until 11th and 12th grade to really develop some strong friendships, and he is a kids who is friendly to everyone.

My 13 yr old DS has never liked school either. It is what it is. He also just got braces. The school year brings a lot of homework, etc so I can't say I blame him.

DS is about to turn 13. He is getting braces tomorrow and his skin is bad and overall he is just so not looking forward to starting 7th grade. We are in a small town, he just switched from our local Charter school to the new 7th and 8th grade Junior High. He knows a zillion kids there and it was his choice to make the switch. He is not an academic kid at all. He just made a travel basketball team that starts 9/4 and thankfully is looking forward to that. I just hate seeing him so bummed about school starting and wish he didn't;t loathe school so much. No bullying or anything like that is going on, in general he just doesn't love school. He has no BFF, more a floater. Hoping he makes some new connections this year.