Momski--
I don't have any middle-schoolers yet (thank God), but boy, you sound like sooo many of my friends who do! I KNOW I was like that at that age, but I don't remember being as bad as some of my friends' kids. I guess that 20+ years generation-wise makes a difference.
I'll ask my friends, but I do know one LOVES those books, "How to Talk to Your Kids So They'll Listen and How to Listen To Your Kids So They'll talk," and by the same author, "No More Sibling Rivalry," and SWEARS by them. I read them myself and thought they were quite good.
My three-year old daughter is already quite the defiant and STUBBORN one, and the thought of her hitting middle school makes me break into a cold sweat!
My wonderful, smart, bright child (when she was in elementary school) has turned into a snotty, gossipy, self-centered pre-teen with below-average (and one "F") grades!
Could anyone recommend any websites that gives tips for us newbie middle school parents?