How to stay cool during back to school

When my son was born almost 6 years ago the transition into motherhood was a big one, but I handled it well by having a great support group and asking plenty of other mom's for advice. Then last year I transitioned again - into motherhood of a school age child. I am happy to say I survived my son's kindergarten year (with a few tears from both him and I of course) and now we are gearing up for first grade.

The first day of school will quickly be upon us and it can create stressful feelings in both parents and kids. I always feel it is better to be proactive rather than reactive, so here on some ideas on easing the transition back into school:

1. Take the mystery out of the first day of school. If your child is attending a new school make sure they are familiar with the school. Take them on campus, show them their classroom, bathroom locations, administration offices and where drop off/pick up is. This can help ease any anxiety your child may have about how they will navigate their new surroundings. Many school's also have a 'meet and greet' with the teachers a week before school. I encourage you to attend these with your children so you can both meet their teacher and see their classroom.

2. Stock up on supplies! With all the budget cuts in the schools it has left classroom supplies very limited. Be sure your child is stocked up on supplies appropriate to their grade level. This can also build some excitement in your children as they prepare their backpacks with fresh paper, binders, crayons and pencils. Also be sure you have a meal plan prepared. If your child will eat a hot lunch be sure they have money on their school account or stock your fridge with some of their favorite lunch items for cold lunch. Disney Family Fun offers some fun and fresh ideas for your kid's lunches and snacks.

3. Start the school routine early. Summer vacation can throw kid's schedules off in a big way. As a parent I am often guilty of letting my kids stay up later during the summer time, causing my kids to go to bed later and have a hard time waking up in the mornings. One or two weeks before school starts begin to implement their school week schedule. Have your kids go to bed and wake up during their school hours so the first week of school isn't a shock to their system.

4. Keep the learning experience strong, year around. Summer learning loss occurs when kids do not engage in educational experiences throughout the summer. A recent segment on the Today show stated that kids can lose approximately 2.6 months of their grade level during the summer months. This can cause kids to feel very frustrated when school starts again and make homework a battle. With fun summer activities it can be hard to coax your kids into traditional learning activities, so make them fun! Many video games or phone's now have educational apps or programs kids can benefit from. You can also engage them in outdoor learning activities so kids don't have to choose between the outdoors or brushing up on their skills.

5. Keep an open dialogue going with your kids and the school. As the school year begins talk to your kids about what they like about school and what they dislike. It is normal that your child isn't going to love everything about school. Build on the good points to keep your child motivated. If there are ongoing concerns be sure to communicate with your child's teacher to see if education services such as tutoring or an IEP is needed. Parents and teachers both want their kids to succeed so work together, not against each other.

So take a deep breath and put on a smile. Transitions can be bumpy but with the proper tools and right attitude, you and your child can make the transition back into school as smooth as possible and set the stage for a great school year.

5 Helpful Tips When Adjusting to Change

It's human nature, we don't like change. We like to get into our patterns and find a comfortable routine. However, in life, change is inevitable. Even positive changes can be difficult because it is still an adjustment and you have to learn a new pattern to your daily life. Learning to cope effectively with change is an important skill to attain and will help you throughout life, whether it is a big change such as parenthood or a small change such as moving to a new home.



1. Identify supportive people in your life. Having a solid support system in your life will help ease the change. Try to find people who love you and will help you look at the positive side of change, even when it can be difficult. Try to not isolate yourself. Often when we are going through a difficult time we shy away from other people and find ourselves isolated and depressed. Reach out to the people in your life that you feel most comfortable with and that you know will be supportive.


2. Recall past coping skills. When you are in the middle of an adjustment think back to other changes in your life and try to recall what coping skills you used and put them into play. Often times we forget that we are capable human beings and by recalling past events we find strength in ourselves.


3. Maintain some normalcy. While there is change going on try to maintain some normal patterns. For instance, new parents often feel that their world is turned upside down and there is no way to hold onto any part of their "pre parenthood" life. You may not be able to have normal sleep patterns with a newborn, but maintain healthy eating habits or set aside time for your regular exercise pattern. Often this means reaching out to your support group as mentioned up above.


4. Don't stifle your emotions. Don't stuff your emotions during a time of change, allow yourself to experience the variety of emotions you are likely to experience during a time of change. I don't mean to allow yourself to wallow in these emotions, but allow yourself to express them. Who doesn't feel better after a good cry? Or a great laughing session with a friend? Get those emotions out there!


5. Embrace the change. Eventually the adjustment to the change will get easier and new patterns will develop. Accepting the change can create a more positive attitude within yourself and help ease the transition. Change is difficult and we all handle change differently. Try some of the tips above and see how they work for you. Reach out to those around you but if you need further assistance or think talking to a professional therapist would help please feel free to contact me.