There’s a new Hospice House on the eastside MIDDLE SCHOOL: What to Expect ... The middle-school years can be tough. And many parents, perhaps remembering their own middle school experiences, just want to put their heads down and hope it will be over soon. However, experts say, kids can thrive during middle school, if parents are willing to change how they approach these years. “Middle school is a parenting game-changer,” says Michelle Icard, author of Middle School Makeover. “It requires that we guide decision making rather than control it. We need to embrace a job demotion from manager to assistant manager.” That includes allowing children to have more freedom, especially when it comes to choosing clothes, music, extra-curricular activities, and more. Yet it also requires parents to set out clear expectations for their middle schoolers. This can include expectations for how homework will be done (on time and well), or how adolescents will behave on social media (no bullying), or other rules for technology (no phones after bedtime). What’s more, parents should embrace the inevitable mess-ups children make in middle school as important opportunities for learning. “Middle school is the ideal place to give kids the space and room to mess up and figure out how to get it right. It’s set up that way,” explains Jessica Lahey, author of The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed. On October 28, Your Teen Magazine presents the event, “Middle School: What to Expect,” at 6:30 pm, at University School in Shaker Heights. Experts will help attendees understand what to expect from their children during middle school — academically, socially, and more — and how to parent in ways that help their children navigate this stage successfully. Learn more about this event at yourteenmag.com/middle-school-event. Maltz Hospice House and Palliative Care Pavilion • On Montefiore’s Beachwood campus • Beautiful living and dining areas for the entire family • Dedicated entrance and parking • Spacious hospice house suites with patios Hospice care also available in your home Please call the hospice office at 216.910.2650 to see how we can help. One David N. Myers Parkway, off Cedar Road montefiorecare.org Montefiore A Caring Community 16 Beachwood Buzz n October 2015