What should you actually do when your child tells you they’re being bullied?

In this episode of Parenting the Middle School Years, Joe Martin breaks down five practical steps parents can use to help a middle schooler dealing with bullying: LISTEN, LOCATE, CONNECT, PRACTICE, and FOLLOW UP.

You’ll learn why “just ignore it” isn’t enough, why immediately telling your child to fight back can make things worse, how to work with the school more effectively, and what your child needs most from you when they’re hurting.

Because your job isn’t to fight every battle for them. It’s to help them feel safe, supported, and prepared to handle what comes next.

This episode is sponsored by Old Towne Custom Concrete, a locally and veteran owned Huntsville concrete contractor specializing in: decorative concrete, stamped concrete, concrete staining, epoxy garage system's.

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What kind of young man are you raising?

A disturbing story involving current and former Cornell students got me thinking about a question every parent of a middle school boy should consider:

Would your son have the courage to speak up if his friends were doing something he knew was wrong?

As parents, we spend a lot of time teaching boys what not to do. Don't bully. Don't mistreat girls. Don't do drugs. Don't get into trouble.

But raising good young men requires another conversation.

What happens when your son isn't the one doing something wrong—but he's standing there watching it happen?

In this episode of Parenting the Middle School Years, Joe Martin talks about raising boys with courage, character, confidence, and the willingness to stand up for others. Even when speaking up could cost them popularity or friendships.

You'll learn how to talk with your middle school son about peer pressure, bullying, group chats, disrespect toward girls, being a bystander, getting an adult involved, and knowing the difference between courage and unnecessarily putting himself in danger.

Because these lessons don't suddenly begin when our boys leave for college.

They're being practiced right now: in middle school hallways, locker rooms, sports teams, friend groups, and group chats.

One of the most important questions we can ask isn't simply:

“Would my son ever do something like that?”

It's:

“What would my son do if his FRIEND did something like that?”

If you're raising a middle school boy and want to help him become a good man who knows when to speak up, when to get help, and how to do the right thing when everyone around him is doing the wrong thing, this episode is for you.

They're not who they're going to be.

Kids aren't just using AI and ChatGPT for homework anymore. They're using it for advice, relationships, personal questions, and problems they may not feel comfortable discussing with their parents.

In this episode of Parenting the Middle School Years, Joe Martin explores what parents need to know about middle schoolers and AI and how to keep technology from replacing real parent-child communication.

You'll learn why kids may turn to AI for advice, when AI use becomes concerning, how to set healthy technology boundaries, and practical ways to become the person your child feels comfortable talking to when something really matters.

AI isn't going away. The goal isn't to fear it, it's to help your middle schooler use it wisely while keeping real human connection at the center.

If you ever need help with your middle schooler, we do one on one mentoring at Relentless Positivity Mentoring.