Navigating Back to School: A Memo for Working Parents

CONGRATULATIONS! You have made it, just when you thought you couldn’t juggle one more camp drop off, late night sleep-overs, and ‘lack’ of routine type day, the school text messages flood your phone!?

As summer winds down, take a moment to close your summer chapter and plan for new beginnings.? The next season is a beautiful opportunity for fresh starts, but it can also bring stress, disruptions, and mixed emotions.? Working parent households juggle a lot during this time, perhaps even sending their first off to kindergarten or college!? As I am creating some personal planning space, I wanted to some highlights that have been helpful for us!?

1. Take a moment for reflection and closure.??

Check-in with the amazing memories of summer, look back at the photos, ask your family what they enjoyed most, and what they didn’t get to experience that can be considered for next year!? What new friends did they make, what camp did they enjoy, any special memories with grandma or grandpa?? Taking time to reflect will not only build gratitude heading into change, it will offer a sense of empowerment over the next season.? Call to mind the number of summers until they are an 'adult', pause and feel the precious moments.

2. Embrace the Big Emotions

Transitioning into new routines brings about unexpected disruptions and heightened anxiety.? Kids might be nervous about teachers, subjects, even new schools.? Remember, our kids feed off of our energy, so give it all a chance, take it extra slow and create fun ways to recognize and embrace the ‘chaos’ of new beginnings.? Make an effort for family meals at least once a day, and ask them things like “what made you nervous today, what made you smile today, who did you see angry today”.? Off-balance looks different for everyone, some may cry, some may ask 1,000 questions, some may attack other kids (educate on bullying). Be aware, talk about it, and ask for help.?

3. Practice Centering

Remind your family of their tools to come back to their center.? Whether it is deep breathing, a morning prayer, counting to 10, closing their eyes, and thinking something positive, the stress of change will give plenty of practice to mindfulness routines.? Do these things WITH your kids, help them learn their own emotions, and regulate their nervous system.?

4. Prepare Ahead of Time

A little preparation can go a long way. Start routines a week early if possible.? Gradually adjust bedtimes, meal times, and lifestyle habits to align with the upcoming schedule. This gradual shift can make the transition feel less abrupt and give everyone a chance to adjust at a comfortable pace. Buy enjoyable snacks and healthy foods.? Give your kids some sense of control in what they bring for lunch or a snack, let them be extra helpful at home, they are on learning overload going back to the classroom.?

5. Map it Out with Family Meetings

Overcommunicate in both words and touch.? Encourage and empower the resilience, patience, and adaptability each of us is capable of.? Help your family understand that the changes going on around them, are not personal, and they have a voice to speak up and share when they have questions or need more information or time. Give them as much information as possible, and be overly present physically and emotionally during the first couple of weeks. Avoid the temptation to overschedule, and overcommit to create the space for change.?

In Reality….

It may fall short of expectations, a fall in hallway, a possible tardy, a forgotten lunch, a missed pick-up because the routine hasn’t become habit yet, late for a work meeting, because car line is 90 minutes long the first week (IYKYK) …

Or it may exceed expectations, the kind words from a brand new friend, the teacher that had an extra pencil, or the PE teacher that had the BEST new game….?

YOU are stronger than you know, SHOW your kids what you are made of, perfectly imperfect! Remind them how many people are in their corner, from friends, parents, coaches, teachers, neighbors, etc.

Your children are a reflection of you, make it the BEST year yet for EVERYONE because you are stronger together!?

Cheering for love and resilience today and always,

Kelly Daubach, ACC, RD ?