Motherhood has a way of changing quietly, and parenting middle schoolers is no exception. As my children grow into their tween and early teenage years, I’m learning that this stage is messy, emotional, and unexpectedly meaningful. Raising tweens means holding on tightly while slowly learning to let go — a balance I’m still trying to understand. This is a reflection on parenting through the middle school years and learning to enjoy the mess instead of simply enduring it.