The In-Between Years with Dr. Sheryl The Parenting Shift Nobody Prepares You For (Introducing The In-Between Years)
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Mar 12, 2026 
Dr. Sheryl Ziegler, a clinical psychologist who specializes in tweens and teens, explains the surprising parenting shift as kids pull away. She discusses why familiar strategies stop working. Short takes cover the run-pursue cycle, becoming a steady anchor instead of a playmate, being present without overdoing it, setting kind boundaries, and framing puberty as a transition, not a rupture.
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Why Tweens Suddenly Pull Away
- Tweens pull away because they're biologically and socially shifting from orbiting their parents to exploring identity.
- Sheryl explains puberty restructures the brain and hormones drive separation even as kids still need a secure base.
Be The Steady Anchor Not The Pursuer
- Be a steady, available anchor instead of chasing or withdrawing; honor the middle ground of presence.
- Dr. Becky and Sheryl recommend staying nearby, offering invitations, and not escalating pursuit which makes them run farther.
Observe Like A Coach Not A Fixer
- Watch your child like someone solving a hard puzzle and offer help only if asked.
- Sheryl suggests observing the brain/body restructuring and trusting their slow problem solving instead of fixing it for them.