Kid asked last week why Moses didn't just use GPS and I'm standing there like what do I even say to that. Nothing. Had nothing.

Preteens think I'm stupid. Probably right half the time honestly.

Talk for maybe fifteen seconds max before eyes glaze over. Thought was my fault til watched them do same thing to their own mom so apparently just how they are.

Started asking random stuff instead trying explain things. "What David thinking when saw Goliath?" Then stand there awkward silence forever til someone finally talks.

Kid goes "why's he so huge" and yeah that's probably accurate.

Girl sobbing last week cause friend read text didn't answer for three hours. Everything's total disaster to them.

Teaching Moses felt different asked who feels like outsider. Every hand shoots up cause they all think they're only weird person when literally everyone same.

Made mistake trying chairs once. Kid bouncing so hard end of class whole row shaking like there's earthquake happening under him.

Just let them do whatever now. Sit stand pace lay on floor don't care long as they not destroying stuff.

David Goliath story kid playing Goliath got excited ran full speed into wall. Everyone loses it but remembered story so whatever works.

They control nothing. Parents teachers everyone bossing them plus bodies doing weird stuff they didn't sign up for.

Ask tiny thing like "circle or groups" act like gave them keys to kingdom finally.

Can't let them decide real stuff obviously but little choices help somehow.

Gave up on phone fight. Too tired. Let them look things up use apps whatever stops the battle.

Made TikToks about parables worked harder than anything I ever assigned. Don't get it not questioning it.

YouTube's basically where history starts for them. Gotta connect Bible to whatever's happening in their life right this second or forget it.

Let them question everything now about God cause shutting down doesn't work anyway. "Why bad stuff happen" "why suffering" real questions keeping them up not just messing around.

Fake answers they smell instantly. Can't do the nice Sunday school responses anymore.

Won't talk front of everyone cause middle school social stuff's brutal. Small groups they'll actually say real things.

Tell them when I screwed up admit don't know answers. Way more respect for that than pretending.

Some days nothing works no idea why. Just doesn't.

When actually engage though? Incredible. Questions I never thought about.

For teachers figuring out preteens don't respond to lectures, people learning movement's not optional it's survival, anyone navigating middle school mess without clue what they're doing.