Middle School: The Friend Factor

Friends factor in two ways when your .

1. Your kids will most probably want to go to the same school as their friends.
2. You will ask the opinion of every friend you know who has a kid that is in a middle school.

I'm here to say: Do not do #1; Do not do #2.

Middle school should be a chance for your child to grow and meet kids from outside their little group.

I was never a mom who worried if my kids would have their best friend in their class. I believe in making new friends always. Not ditching the old ones, but make new ones too.

As for asking your friends about the middle school experience, I realize you will do this. I did it —a lot. But I also got different answers from parents with kids in the same school, which only confused me.

My friend Susan Yagerman, who is in the midst of choosing a middle school for her daughter, has a good piece of advice on this;  "When someone tells you they love or hate a school, ask them specifically what they love or hate about it. What they love might be the exact thing you're trying to avoid and vice versa."

The example she uses is school size. You may love the fact that a school is so , but that might turn off a parent who's looking for a larger environment for their child.

The bottom line is that you need to know your child's needs, which may vary from your friends' kids or your kid's friends. And don't worry, this is all preparation for when you get to do this all again in three years when it's time to choose a high school.