When you send your daughter off to junior high, you brace yourself for homework, sports practices and maybe the occasional attitude. What you don’t expect is a crash course in Gen Z lingo that makes you question if you’ve accidentally landed on another planet. I know I have written a column about this before, but it has turned into a completely different beast at this point, so it deserves a follow up.

Emerson is officially in junior high now, and suddenly I’m living in a world where “slay,” “ate,” “delulu,” and “sus” are part of everyday conversation. She’ll walk in the door and say, “Ugh, mom, today was so mid.” MID! When I was her age, the worst insult you could dish out was “loser.” Now I’ve got a kid ranking my dinner like she’s a TikTok food critic.

And don’t get me started on the drama. One day, someone’s “bestie,” the next day, that same bestie is “so fake” and “full cap.” (For those of us who need subtitles: cap = lying. I know, I know, I’m basically fluent now.) And apparently, group chats are the Hunger Games of junior high. You either survive the tea being spilled or you’re the tea.

But here’s the thing: as confusing and, yes, “extra” as it all seems, I kind of love it. Every “slay” and “sus” is Emerson carving out her identity. Every dramatic friendship fallout is her learning who she really wants to keep close.

Me? I’m just along for the ride – clutching my coffee and trying not to embarrass her too much by asking what half of these words mean. Junior high is chaotic, messy and full of slang that makes me feel “old AF,” but honestly…it’s also pretty amazing.

Bottom line: Emerson’s growing, I’m growing, and as long as she doesn’t call me “mid” again, we’ll be just fine.

(Paige Gurgainers is a mom of three girls, digital journalist for Webster Parish Journal.)