Let’s talk about middle school kids beyond that sigma rizz of 6-7. 

I have two in 7th grade right now—yes, two. Twins in grade, not in personality. They’re both smart, funny, and capable of great things… but you’d think asking them to do homework, put away laundry, or even just get off the couch was the equivalent of asking them to climb Mount Everest in flip flops. 🩴 

What’s funny (or not so funny, depending on the day) is that their lack of motivation looks completely different. One avoids tasks because of the panic of not knowing what to do or doing it right. The other has zero urgency—like, if something doesn’t interest them, it simply doesn’t exist. Meanwhile, I’m over here flashing back to my own middle school days when my entire personality was: must please every adult in the room at all times. Teacher said jump? I was already mid-air.

So, what happened?

This generation of kids seems wired differently. Maybe it’s technology. Maybe it’s how fast the world moves. Maybe it’s because they’ve been told since birth they’re “special” and “unique” (true, but also… can we please just finish the math worksheet?). Somewhere along the way, entitlement snuck in, and now it’s like motivation requires a three-step verification process.

I keep reminding myself that middle school is this weird in-between space. They’re not little kids anymore, but they’re not fully teenagers either. They’re testing boundaries, figuring out identity, and pushing every button in sight—including mine.

The truth is, motivation for this generation might not look like what it did for us. They might not be people-pleasers, but they still have that personality buried deep in there. They question things. They don’t just accept “because I said so.” And while it drives me absolutely nuts in the day-to-day grind, deep down I know it’s a strength.

Still, if anyone’s cracked the code for getting a middle schooler to care about neat handwriting or finishing a project —please send help. Or coffee. Or both.

Because right now, raising middle schoolers feels like living in the land of zombies where I have to stand on my head to light a fire under their ass for motivation.