The In-Between Years with Dr. Sheryl

Who Is This Kid? (When Your Tween Suddenly Changes)

Listen Later

You finally feel like you’ve figured out your kid.

You know what works! You feel connected! Things make sense!

And then… something shifts.

Suddenly your child is making choices that don’t add up. They’re lying, cutting corners, or acting in ways that feel completely unlike them. And you’re left wondering:
Am I losing influence? Should I step in more? Or am I about to become too controlling?

In today’s episode, Dr. Sheryl sits down with a mom navigating exactly this moment with her 11-year-old son — a child who had always been “easy”… until he wasn’t.

Together, they unpack what’s really happening underneath these confusing behaviors — including:

  • Why kids this age start making choices that don’t make sense
  • How shame (not “badness”) drives more problematic behavior
  • The difference between discipline that controls vs. discipline that teaches
  • Why “good kids” can suddenly seem like they’re going off track
  • And a simple phrase that can completely change your conversations: “Help me understand”

    • This episode is about one of the hardest — and most important — parenting shifts:

    Letting go of control, while staying deeply connected.

    New episodes drop every Wednesday; follow the show on Apple or Spotify so you don't miss a single one!

    Follow Dr. Sheryl on Instagram: @drsherylatgoodinside

    Get the Good Inside app: Good Inside Teen

    Thank you to our partners for making this episode of The In-Between Years possible! 

    • Equip: Learn about Equip's at-home eating disorder treatment at equip.health/goodinside.

      • Follow Dr. Sheryl on Instagram

      Learn more about Good Inside


      Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store
      The In-Between Years with Dr. SherylBy Good Inside