It is the time of year that parents eagerly await (and sometimes dread)…back to school. We return to routines and schedules. For working parents who have been attempting to do all of the summer things, coordinate camp schedules, and still work, I feel you! For the parents who were at home with their kids attempting to feed constantly hungry children, coordinate all of the summer fun, redirect a billion “I’m bored” complaints, and referee the constant fights you are a superhero too.
Along with handing our darling children/wild things off to the amazing educators who will help them to grow this year we are adding a new set of to do’s to our never ending list. Our time is not an infinite resource. No matter how many productivity hacks you implement you can’t make more time. So, instead of giving you hacks for doing all the things I am proposing you let go of some of the things that are making life overwhelming. These are my 5 suggestions for things to let go of this fall.
- Fancy lunches filled with food cut to look like flowers and shapes, complicated handmade snacks and treats, and witty little puns and affirmations written on cute little cards. School lunches are perfectly acceptable meals for your kiddo. A simple PB&J, apple slices, and a cheese stick are also a healthy option. If you have a picky eater who only eats dino nuggets and a pouch of applesauce that is fine too. Kids eat lunch quickly and often ignore half of what they have. Send what your kid will eat, is easy to open (please don’t send a juice box where your sweet kindergartner has to put a straw in a small foil hole and not poke through the entire pouch- I’m a grown adult and this is something that still requires fine motor skills beyond my abilities), and can be eaten in about 15 minutes. If you want to send a cookie or piece of candy to sweeten the middle of the day go for it. Your kiddo will not be instagramming your lunch creation- they are shoving their little mouth with whatever they like from their bag or tray.
- The perfect first day of school pictures. I know your social media feed is filled with seemingly adorable pictures of kids in their cutest outfit holding a bespoke sign showing their favorite things and dream job. Getting your kid out the door in clothes of any sort is often a challenge when the school year starts. Going back to school can be stressful for a kid and helping them feel calm is far more important than a photo. Imperfect pictures are the ones we end up loving because they remind us of a moment in time.
- Cute outfits that look straight out of a catalog. Let your kid be comfortable and themselves. No one cares if your kiddo’s clothes don’t match or that they have added an especially quirky accessory. Shoes that won’t cause a playground accident, glow, or make noises when they walk matter more than whether their
- Signing up for all of the activities that are advertised at Back to School night. The PTA may make a convincing plea for you to join multiple committees, volunteer for the fall festival, and to be a room parent. The scouts and the basketball organization are touting fun and important life skills. You don’t want to miss out on any opportunity to support your child’s academic and social development so you feel like you need to do everything. The truth is that you don’t. Every time you commit to a meeting or practice you are saying no to some other activity. Choose the things you actually want to do and that means something to you or your kids and say no thanks to the ones to all of the rest.
- Doing anything other than eating pizza and watching a movie on TV in your PJs on the first Friday after school starts. You and your kids are going to be physically and mentally exhausted. The idea of going to a favorite restaurant or some fun activity may sound like a great idea, but it is a guaranteed meltdown for all involved. Anything that requires real clothes on the first Friday after school starts is an automatic no.
So, parents, enjoy a celebratory pastry, fancy drink, massage, or nap to celebrate that you made it through all of the summer chaos. Your break is well deserved.
