I have been out of school for years, but at the end of summer, I still get that “pit” in my stomach that school will start again. I remember the longer, sometimes lazier, days of summer with no schedule, no deadlines, no homework. It was a good kind of lazy, like lazy-daisy, not an unwillingness to work or be productive, but restful with more wandering, discovering, or doing nothing in particular for no real reason like sitting in the sun for a minute or two and just soaked in the warmth of the sun.
What does “back to school” mean to you? Parents with children going back to classrooms might be sad to miss the lazy-daisy times with them and others are already cheering and dancing. You know who you are. 😉 Parents of home-based learning families either can’t wait to start the life long learning journey together again or maybe they feel the dread of the routine and all the details. Wait! It might be you who is going back to school after years of being away. No matter what, the recipe is the same. I call it the
The Four Simple Steps to Success
Prioritizing People
Simple Systems
Clear Communication
Friendly Follow-Up
Today we are going to talk about Prioritizing People. I know. There are lists of school supplies, clothes and shoes, haircuts, lunch boxes and a thousand other things to worry about, but I promise you the pay off on this is big, important stuff. Let’s face it, the back to school routine is a big adjustment for everyone, even stressful, so practically speaking, what can we do?
Here are a few simple tips that can make a big difference:
Invest in rest. Not just for the children, but for parents too. Don’t go into the week exhausted. That might mean you need to be ready with supplies and other things ahead of time, not last minute. It might take some planning, but you will thank yourself later.
Practice. Don’t wait until the first morning of school to start the routine. At least the weak before, practice all or part of the get ready for school routine. That will look different for classroom-based learning and home-based learning, but work towards the steps of your best routine.
Plan the downtime. You know your children. Some are going to finish the first day of school jumping for joy while another might melt down in tears. Be prepared for both. What do they need? A happy dance, a quiet snuggle, a hug, a snack. Be ready for the emotional parade. Also expect that bedtime routines might need more time to settle down or just to listen.
Celebrate Dinner. If you are all able to eat together, serve kid friendly food, something that will be a crowd pleaser, so that something is easy on everyone.
Weekend. Plan some things in advance to look forward to the weekend. What refreshes your family? Getting out and doing something physical or fun? Staying in to chill with movies or games? You know your team, so choose what works for you. If your family is split between the two, divide and conquer as parents if you can. If not, find someone who could help you out, but have something everyone can look forward to over the weekend.
Y.O.U. – Parents, don’t forget about you. It’s not only about the children. They benefit when you are rested and refreshed. Plan your downtime and reward yourself.
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