Episode 36: Tips to Help with Back to School

#1 Tip: Take some time to check in with yourself and acknowledge your stress during this chaotic time of year. Your kids sense and feel your emotions. 

• When you have the kid that doesn’t like school, you tend to be more reactive. Instead learn ways to listen to your kids using empathy.
• Try to think of times when you have to do things you really don’t want to do so you can understand how your child is feeling.
• Give yourself a few moments a day to really see what’s coming up for you and how you are feeling.
• Use storytelling to help. Let your kids know how it felt when you went through it as a kid or how you feel when you’re starting something new. It’s a great way to connect.
• Talk to your kids about how they feel in general about going back to school.

#2 Tip:  Get back on your sleep schedule

• If you can, start 10 days before the first day of school and start shifting their bed time back in small increments so it’s not detected by your kiddos.
• If you weren’t able to do the shift, adjust your mindset to know that the first week back is going to be a little rough.
• Be prepared for big emotions until they adjust to their new sleep schedule. Use PARR, Pause, Acknowledge, Respond, Reflect to help with this.

# 3 Tip: Letting Go when you are feeling overwhelmed

• Going back to school can be a stressful time for both parents and children. Dealing with all the emails and meet the teachers, and buying all the supplies can be so overwhelming.
• I wrote an article for Detroit that goes over how to let go when life gets overwhelming, linked below. Here are some tips from it.
  • Really get clear on your priorities.
  • Do a rear view mirror test, Author Light Watkins has a test where you envision yourself 10 years from now and ask yourself what do you really want to remember about right now in this day.
  • This helps to really ask what do I need, which most mothers don’t sit with or ask themselves. It is so important for mothers to do this.

• Give yourself permission to break the rules when routines change, it’s hard for everyone.
• Don’t make it the week to set rules about screen time, it’s ok to break some rules for this week.
• Plan check-ins with yourself on how things are going. Go over what worked and what didn’t, what is really important.
• Take the time to see what is really a priority in your week, and say no when things don’t work with your schedule.
• When you do this and become really intentional about your time, you will really show up for what you commit to.

I hope everyone adjusts quickly to going back to school and also has a great school year!