Middle school doesn’t have to be a war zone, and your kid’s big feelings don’t have to derail your life.

Megan Saxelby of Wild Feelings has seen it all. From navigating her own adolescence with learning differences to helping middle schoolers (and their parents) thrive instead of just survive. She shares real stories from her classroom and coaching work that show how small shifts in mindset and language can completely change your connection with your kid.

We unpack why so many of us are trapped in the “middle school is impossible” story, how behavior is really a need trying to be met, and what it looks like when you give your child autonomy, belonging, and a sense of purpose. Megan offers practical, digestible steps for parents who want to parent from calm, connection, and clarity, not stress, guilt, or perfectionism. 

By the end, you’ll see how this phase can be one of the most joyful, relationship-building periods of your family life, and why approaching it strategically can leave everyone feeling capable, seen, and relieved.

Key Takeaways:

Belonging is crucial for adolescents' emotional well-being.

Behavior is often a need trying to be met, not a personal attack.

Repairing relationships after conflict is essential for healthy dynamics.

Modeling silliness can encourage children to embrace playfulness.

Creating a playful environment can help ease tensions at home.

Recognizing the developmental needs of adolescents can improve parenting strategies.

Resources Mentioned:

10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People by David Yeager

I Just Want My Kids to Be Happy by Aaron Cooper & Eric Keitel

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

04:48 Deconstructing the negative narrative of middle schoolers

08:25 How to shift your mindset and embrace the middle school experience

13:12 Why your middle schooler acts like a total stranger

20:28 When your kid pushes your buttons

38:40 How to fix it when things go sideways

40:29 Turn your home into a place your kid actually wants to be at

48:24 The secret nobody tells you about middle school parenting

48:54 How to work with Megan

50:09 Parting wisdom for surviving and thriving

Connect with Megan:

Substack: https://wildfeelings.substack.com/ 

Website: https://wildfeelings.co/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildfeelings.co/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-saxelby-20b1a689/ 

Email: [email protected]  

The WILD Compass Workshop: https://buy.stripe.com/bJefZiaYm3Fi9Sz0d4dnW08

More About Building Thinkers: 

I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.

And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.

If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.