Ahhhhhhh September. As I am writing this, the golden autumn sun is beaming through my windows. The air is crisp and everything is pumpkin spice. I love this time of year, but I can only say that, because we are three weeks in. Three weeks into the new school year.
I have experienced 15 new school years as a teacher. Each one brings an element of excitement and an equal dose of stress. But over the past 5 years, I have experienced a new emotion – guilt. I feel overwhelmingly guilty about leaving my kids.
A few weeks ago was a different story. Joyful anticipation was at an all-time high. We attended orientations and met teachers. We shopped for new backpacks, pencil cases and new sneakers. As I scratched their backs the night before the first day they could barely contain their excitement.
However, after the first few days, the shine had worn off. Grumpy faces emerged, behaviors spiked and then…. the tearful “I miss you when I am at school.” Typing this makes my heart ache.
The funny thing is in just a few short days the outlook changed, as it always does. The even funnier thing is that even though I know this, I still torture myself with worry each year.
So, this blog post is a reminder to myself to trust the process. Transition is hard.
As parents, we do everything we can to prevent our children from experiencing pain. But the discomfort they feel during these big transitions is actually vital. It teaches them how to navigate through tough situations. Our job is to listen and support.
This time around, I was very intentional with my words and actions. First, I avoided bombarding them with questions the minute they walked through the door. My son is actually being bussed directly to my school this year. I love it! I have a snack and drink waiting for him and he helps me in my room. On the way home, I wait for him to share things about his day. This small shift has made a big difference!
The next adjustment I made was how I responded when they voiced their frustrations. One of the comments I heard frequently from my son during the first week was, “school is so boring.” I was immediately tempted to try and change his mind. But guess what? He is allowed to have those feelings! Instead I responded, “I know what you mean. Sometimes it is hard to sit all day.”
Next in my arsenal is Lunch Notes. This is something I have been doing for a few years and I benefit just as much as the kids do! There are some adorable lunch notes you can purchase on Amazon – but an index card will also do! I like to draw silly pictures, write about things we are looking forward to or mention how brave they are. This is such a simple way to connect during the day and let them know you are thinking of them.
Finally, I have really focused on reducing my own stress. Kids sense this! One thing that can really throw me off is rushing. In order to reduce chaos in the morning I set out everything I will need the night before. We pick out our outfits, reorganize the book bags, check the calendar for school activities (pack the library books!) and set out lunch supplies. I also shifted to an earlier wake-up. The first week or so was rough – but I couldn’t be happier now.
Every morning I pack lunches while drinking life-changing ENERGIZE! This always gives me a little pep in my step and gives me the motivation to hit play on my workout. There are so many benefits to working out in the morning, but the bottom line is that you will have loads of energy! Making this time for myself is crucial. I also try to sneak in some self-care at night. After the kids are in bed, I jump into a super hot bath and read my book. I notice a huge difference when I don’t do this! I also use this time to take care of my skin! The skin is the body’s biggest organ and it is so important to give it some love. I am a die-hard BeautyCounter fan, but THIS drugstore mask is truly amazing!
Below are two guides for my favorite back-to-school items for you and the kiddos!
Ello Water Bottle with Antimicrobial Spout
Our Favorite Gender-Neutral Masks
Aveeno Baby Cream (for chapped faces from masking – make sure it is Cream not Lotion)
BeachBody on Demand (you only need 25 minutes a day!!)
Happy 2021-22 School Year!
This was very good advice & I can see how it helps w/the morning routines!!