<![CDATA[Parenting the Middle School Years with Joe Martin]]>Helping parents raise confident, resilient, and empathetic kids ages 10–14 through practical advice, real-life stories, and simple strategies that work in the real world.

Short, actionable episodes for busy parents of middle schoolers who need a little help.

Parenting should be a team sport! 

So we will be talking about:

Friendship struggles
Bullying
Screen time

Negative body image

Motivation

Confidence
Resilience

... and all the challenges that come with raising a middle schooler  

The middle school years can feel messy, confusing, and sometimes overwhelming.
But there is hope.
Your child isn't finished becoming who they're meant to be.
And neither are you.
Welcome to Parenting the Middle School Years.

]]>https://riverside.comRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Sat, 18 Jul 2026 02:52:40 GMTMon, 01 Jun 2026 21:01:38 GMT60Joe Martin<p>Helping parents raise <b>confident, resilient, and empathetic kids ages 10–14</b> through practical advice, real-life stories, and simple strategies that work in the real world.</p><p>Short, actionable episodes for busy parents of middle schoolers who need a little help.</p><p>Parenting should be a team sport! </p><p>So we will be talking about:</p><p>Friendship struggles<br />Bullying<br />Screen time</p><p>Negative body image</p><p>Motivation</p><p>Confidence<br />Resilience</p><p>... and all the challenges that come with raising a middle schooler  </p><p>The middle school years can feel messy, confusing, and sometimes overwhelming.<br />But there is hope.<br />Your child isn't finished becoming who they're meant to be.<br />And neither are you.<br />Welcome to Parenting the Middle School Years.</p>episodicJoe Martinhuntsvillebootcamp@gmail.comno<![CDATA[Episode 6: 10 Life Skills Every Middle Schooler Should Be Taught Before High School]]>What life skills matter more than straight A's? In this episode of Parenting the Middle School Years, Joe Martin shares 10 essential life skills every middle schooler should learn before high school—from introducing themselves and managing money to doing laundry, resolving conflict, and asking for help. These practical lessons will help your child become more confident, capable, and prepared for life beyond the classroom.

]]>d520e654-1dce-456d-bd76-963c6276cebcMon, 13 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT<p>What life skills matter more than straight A's? In this episode of <b>Parenting the Middle School Years</b>, Joe Martin shares <b>10 essential life skills every middle schooler should learn before high school</b>—from introducing themselves and managing money to doing laundry, resolving conflict, and asking for help. These practical lessons will help your child become more confident, capable, and prepared for life beyond the classroom.</p>no00:06:56Episode 6: 10 Life Skills Every Middle Schooler Should Be Taught Before High Schoolfull<![CDATA[Episode 5- 5 Things Every Middle School Girl Wishes Her Parents Knew]]>Middle school can be an emotional and confusing time for girls, and parents often aren't sure how to help. In this episode, I share five things every middle school girl wishes her parents knew, along with practical ways to strengthen your relationship, build her confidence, and help her navigate these important years. Would love your feedback on what I got right and what I left out!

]]>4fef83f3-9d43-4a81-bbbe-7a2347ebdc31Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT<p>Middle school can be an emotional and confusing time for girls, and parents often aren't sure how to help. In this episode, I share five things every middle school girl wishes her parents knew, along with practical ways to strengthen your relationship, build her confidence, and help her navigate these important years. Would love your feedback on what I got right and what I left out!</p>no00:06:09Episode 5- 5 Things Every Middle School Girl Wishes Her Parents Knewfull<![CDATA[Episode 4- 5 Things Every Middle School Boy Wishes His Parents Knew]]>Middle school boys don't always have the words to tell you what they need, but they're communicating more than you think. In this episode, I share five things nearly every middle school boy wishes his parents understood, from the importance of respect and independence to encouragement, connection, and believing in who they're becoming. Practical, encouraging advice for parents who want to strengthen their relationship during one of the most important stages of their son's life.

]]>254027c2-2049-464e-b368-95f6ae1c2ab6Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT<p>Middle school boys don't always have the words to tell you what they need, but they're communicating more than you think. In this episode, I share five things nearly every middle school boy wishes his parents understood, from the importance of respect and independence to encouragement, connection, and believing in who they're becoming. Practical, encouraging advice for parents who want to strengthen their relationship during one of the most important stages of their son's life.</p>no00:04:4114Episode 4- 5 Things Every Middle School Boy Wishes His Parents Knewfull<![CDATA[Episode 3-When Your Child Stops Talking To You]]>Middle schoolers don't stop talking because they don't love you anymore. They stop talking because they're changing.

In this episode, I talk about why asking more questions often leads to shorter answers, and what to do instead. Through a simple story about shooting basketball with a teenager, you'll discover how shared experiences create the conversations parents are looking for.

You'll learn:
• Why "How was your day?" rarely works
• The power of side-by-side activities
• How to turn "I don't know" into real conversation
• Why your child's growing independence isn't rejection
• Simple ways to reconnect without pressure

If your once-chatty child has become a one-word-answer machine, this episode will give you practical strategies to strengthen your connection and create opportunities for meaningful conversations.

Your child isn't shutting you out. They're growing up. Here's how to stay connected along the way.

]]>125283db-a634-412f-873f-a53c62bade89Mon, 22 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT<p>Middle schoolers don't stop talking because they don't love you anymore. They stop talking because they're changing.</p><p>In this episode, I talk about why asking more questions often leads to shorter answers, and what to do instead. Through a simple story about shooting basketball with a teenager, you'll discover how shared experiences create the conversations parents are looking for.</p><p>You'll learn:<br />• Why "How was your day?" rarely works<br />• The power of side-by-side activities<br />• How to turn "I don't know" into real conversation<br />• Why your child's growing independence isn't rejection<br />• Simple ways to reconnect without pressure</p><p>If your once-chatty child has become a one-word-answer machine, this episode will give you practical strategies to strengthen your connection and create opportunities for meaningful conversations.</p><p>Your child isn't shutting you out. They're growing up. Here's how to stay connected along the way.</p>no00:03:4213Episode 3-When Your Child Stops Talking To Youfull<![CDATA[Episode 2: Raising Kids Who Can Handle Failure]]>Failure is not something to fear, it's one of the greatest teachers your child will ever have. In this episode, I share a powerful story from coaching middle school football and explains why resilient kids aren't the ones who avoid failure, they're the ones who learn how to bounce back from it.

Discover practical ways to help your child build confidence, perseverance, and the ability to handle life's setbacks without mom and dad rushing in to rescue them every time.

]]>a9bab726-2d5a-4958-b801-54d51cbb003cMon, 15 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT<p>Failure is not something to fear, it's one of the greatest teachers your child will ever have. In this episode, I share a powerful story from coaching middle school football and explains why resilient kids aren't the ones who avoid failure, they're the ones who learn how to bounce back from it. </p><p></p><p>Discover practical ways to help your child build confidence, perseverance, and the ability to handle life's setbacks without mom and dad rushing in to rescue them every time.</p>no00:05:48Episode 2: Raising Kids Who Can Handle Failurefull<![CDATA[Episode 1: 5 Words Every Sports Parents Should Know...And Every Kid Needs To Hear]]>Welcome to the first episode of Parenting The Middle School Years! Youth sports are getting pretty wild these days. So I want to share one of the most important lessons that I had to learn the hard way. And I want to pass on the 5 Magic Words every sports parent needs to know.


]]>1667ce65-bfdc-40a7-9cb1-d40d21348a45Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:03:02 GMT<p>Welcome to the first episode of Parenting The Middle School Years! Youth sports are getting pretty wild these days. So I want to share one of the most important lessons that I had to learn the hard way. And I want to pass on the 5 Magic Words every sports parent needs to know.</p><p><br /></p>no00:05:03Episode 1: 5 Words Every Sports Parents Should Know...And Every Kid Needs To Hearfull<![CDATA[Parenting The Middle School Years Trailer]]>Parenting the Middle School Years with Joe Martin helps parents of kids ages 10–14 navigate one of the most important (and challenging) stages of childhood.

Each week, you'll get short, practical episodes filled with real-life stories, actionable strategies, and encouragement to help your child build confidence, resilience, empathy, and strong character.

We'll tackle friendship struggles, bullying, screen time, motivation, self-esteem, peer pressure, negative body image, and all the other challenges that come with raising a middle schooler.

No parenting jargon. No guilt trips. Just practical help for busy parents.

Because parenting should be a team sport.

Your child isn't finished becoming who they're meant to be. And neither are you.

]]>93b18c16-d9c0-46c5-ac16-58dbaa2576baTue, 02 Jun 2026 15:59:45 GMT<p>Parenting the Middle School Years with Joe Martin helps parents of kids ages 10–14 navigate one of the most important (and challenging) stages of childhood.</p><p>Each week, you'll get short, practical episodes filled with real-life stories, actionable strategies, and encouragement to help your child build confidence, resilience, empathy, and strong character.</p><p>We'll tackle friendship struggles, bullying, screen time, motivation, self-esteem, peer pressure, negative body image, and all the other challenges that come with raising a middle schooler.</p><p>No parenting jargon. No guilt trips. Just practical help for busy parents.</p><p>Because parenting should be a team sport.</p><p>Your child isn't finished becoming who they're meant to be. And neither are you.</p>no00:01:161Parenting The Middle School Years Trailertrailer