Divya's Post

The tween years (8-12) are the most volatile time for friendships. 💔 They are moving from "playmates" (whoever is nearby) to "soulmates" (people who validate their identity). When that validation is withdrawn, it feels like a physical injury to them. As parents, our instinct is to fix it immediately. But if we rush in, we rob them of the resilience they need. Here are 5 steps to handle the "breakup" without making it worse: 1. Put on your "Poker Face" 😐 When they drop the drama bomb, don't panic and don't attack the other child. If you overreact, they will stop telling you things to protect your feelings. Say this: "I’m listening. Tell me what happened." Be a container, not a fixer. 2. The "Vent or Solve" Rule 🛑 Before you offer a single piece of advice, ask this magic question: "Do you want my help figuring out what to do, or do you just want to vent and get a hug?" 90% of the time, they just want to be heard. 3. Teach the "Seasons" Metaphor 🍂 Normalize that friendships shift. Explain that people are like seasons—some are for a summer, some are for a long time. Growing apart doesn't mean they are "bad" or unlikable; it just means the season is changing. 4. Diversify their "Friend Portfolio" 🎨 If all their self-worth is tied to one school clique, a fight feels like the end of the world. Encourage circles outside of school (cousins, sports, neighbors). When school feels lonely, they need to know they are loved elsewhere. 5. Script the Next Day 📝 The scariest part is walking into school tomorrow. Help them practice. The Mantra: "I can be friendly to everyone, even if I'm not friends with everyone." 📌 Save this post for when the friendship drama inevitably hits. 👇 Has your tween started the "friendship shuffle" yet? How are you handling it? #parentingteens #tweendrama #parentingtips gentleparenting momlife friendshipbreakups emotionalresilience raisingkids parentingadvice

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This post was published on 29th November, 2025 by Divya on her Instagram handle "@kavyaislife (Divya Bhatia | partner in your parenting journey)". Divya has total 73.3K followers on Instagram and has a total of 1.4K post.This post has received 1.6K Likes which are greater than the average likes that Divya gets. Divya receives an average engagement rate of 0.17% per post on Instagram. This post has received 66 comments which are greater than the average comments that Divya gets. Overall the engagement rate for this post was lower than the average for the profile. #parentingtips #tweendrama #parentingteens has been used frequently in this Post.