Parenting Tweens: Understanding the Emotional Whiplash
The Emotional Whiplash of Parenting a Tween – As Featured in Scary Mommy
Parenting through the tween years can feel like a constant rollercoaster.
One moment your child is confident and independent, the next they’re slamming doors or in tears. If it feels like emotional whiplash—you’re not imagining it.
In her feature for Scary Mommy, Reesa Morala, LMFT, explains why this stage is so turbulent for both kids and parents. Tweens are navigating rapid brain development, hormonal changes, and new social pressures—all at once. Their emotional highs and lows are often less about parenting missteps and more about biology and growth.
According to Reesa, it’s like “a major construction zone inside their brain.” Testosterone spikes in both boys and girls heighten risk-taking and sensitivity to reward, while estradiol in girls influences inhibition and social behaviors. Combined with evolving peer dynamics, these shifts create the unpredictable swings parents often face at home.
Why This Matters for Parents
Understanding the science behind these behaviors helps reduce frustration and guilt.
Grounding strategies can keep parents calm during heated moments.
Connection rituals—like shared meals, walks, or simple check-ins—help tweens feel secure.
Remember: these ups and downs are a normal phase of growth, not a reflection of parenting failure.
Reesa’s insights give parents both clarity and compassion for this unique stage. By seeing tween emotions as part of healthy development, families can respond with patience instead of panic.
If you’re in Murrieta, CA or anywhere across California, learn more about my parenting therapy intensives and parenting classes for more support.
Read the full article on Scary Mommy: The Emotional Whiplash of Parenting a Tween
