The Transition

That time of year has arrived again! The time that makes every kid groan and every parent leap for joy!School has started!As much as I adore my boys (ages 7 and 4), there are only so many conversations I can have with them about Pokemon cards and video games, as was most of our summer. So I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t looking forward to the start of school. My youngest was also starting pre-k this year, which means no more weekly payments for daycare. Most of you know what that means. ;)While the start of school means more structure and learning, it also means more of everything else too. More activities, more friends, more planning and more drama. The transition from summer to school, no matter how many times we go through it, is one of the most challenging that we deal with.Here are a few things I’ve learned so far:You won’t do it perfectly. It takes time to get acclimated to schedules, activities, who needs to be where at what time and what they need to have with them at that time. Getting used to putting things in a schedule again also takes time. Give yourself a break if someone doesn’t have lunch or someone doesn’t make it to their activity on time. Ask for help. The great thing about this time of year is that other parents are probably pulling their hair out too. They will feel your pain and might even be willing to help you out. You won’t know until you ask, and you will inevitably be asked to help out as well. Asking for help does not mean that you’re weak. It means that you can’t do it all and the more you try, the worse off you will probably be in the long run.Eat. And get enough sleep, even if your DVR shows things to binge watch on the weekends. And exercise, even if that means you park further away at the grocery store or your version of lifting weights is carrying the bags of everything everyone will need to survive to your car. Not doing these things, for whatever reason (cue in statements like “I forgot” or “I don’t have time”) will not help you. In fact, they will probably make you feel more emotionally vulnerable. In plain speak, it means that things will get to you more and you may not be able to brush them off as quickly.I say all of these things because of personal experience. I am fully aware that I try to do everything and make sure that no one is put out. I have planned many of my days down to the minute and exercise is completely at the bottom of my priority list. I try to remind myself every day that I’m doing the best I can. And I can also want to improve and make things better.How many more days until summer?