The push is on. The end is near. The finish line is in sight. For many of you, your child has two months left of school. You’re. Almost. There.

My best advice: stay on the same team as the teachers–especially if you’re dealing with a ‘tween.

Parents of ‘tweens (10- to 14-year-olds) not only have to deal with the changes in their relationships with their children, but they also have to confront the changes in their relationships with their children’s teachers. Many of you served as PTO presidents or created costumes for school plays. You felt welcomed in your child’s classroom; you were needed and wanted.  Now, you don’t feel welcome in your child’s bedroom, let alone his/her classroom. Yet, you are assets-to both teachers and your kids-when you become allies.

Parent-teacher communication is just as important in middle school as it is in elementary school-maybe even more so.  Parents, teachers, and students are in this thing together.  With the end of a successful school year just weeks away, hang in there and keep the lines of communicatino open. It’s not always easy but it’s as important as ever.