Middle school is, speaking in the broadest possible terms, a difficult period of transition for kids, who tend to hit every pothole on their way from childhood to young adulthood. The biggest of those potholes, puberty, is particularly jarring and disruptive to personal relationships as well as biological functions. As they make their way through middle school, kids may not even want to open up about struggles they face, making the stage singularly difficult for parents who want to be supportive but also understand that the solution to most middle school problems is time.

That’s why Fatherly built this guide to getting your kid through middle school. We pulled out our old yearbooks and talked to educational experts, therapists, and parents about puberty, bullying, backpacks, and more.