Middle School Manners Through a Gen Alpha Lens

Middle school gets blamed for a lot. Awkward behavior. Big emotions. Questionable manners. But what if we’ve been misunderstanding it all along?

In this episode of Mannered, I sit down with my middle-school-aged daughter for an honest, funny, and surprisingly insightful conversation about what manners look like at thirteen. We explore why today’s kids get flack for eye contact, phone use, and casual language, and where they’re actually showing more empathy, awareness, and respect than previous generations.

From group chat etiquette and lunchroom politics to boundaries, inclusivity, and emotional intelligence, this episode asks a bigger question: are kids losing their manners, or are they simply practicing them differently?

If you’ve ever wondered what adults forget about being in middle school, how early traits shape who we become, or how to better understand the next generation without judgment, this conversation is for you.