I’ve always loved the back-to-school season. As a kid, the smell of recently waxed floors and newly painted walls indicated a fresh start. A new nametag on my desk meant I could begin again. The year bloomed with new opportunities to learn and grow and experience all of the wonders of my small but expanding world.
I still enjoy the season, but I must admit that as a busy mom of two girls it’s a little less romantic. After a summer of sleeping late, I must trick my body into being fully alert and engaged a couple hours earlier in the day. There are lunches to pack, homework to check and so many details and meetings to attend to during the first couple of weeks.
After a few years of making a mess of things, I realized I needed to put some essential rituals and key routines into place. Intentionally engaging in these regular practices helps everyone in our household start and finish the school day with more energy and joy and less exhaustion and irritation.
Set out breakfast the night before
I don’t typically prepare a breakfast buffet for our kids when they go back to school. They eat the same simple fare they’ve eaten all summer long. However, I do make an effort to be sure that items are out on the counter the night before.
Setting the coffee pot to brew before my feet even hit the floor guarantees I won’t be fumbling around in a dazed state of existence. Placing bowls on the counter allows me to skip a step in preparing oatmeal. Placing a pan on the stovetop, ready to heat a breakfast sandwich in the oven, lets me jump right in to the morning. This habit takes less than five minutes and yet launches me into a morning with less angst and more ease.
Toss in a load of laundry
One of my first chores of each school day is tending to a simple load of laundry. Typically, I place a load of towels into the washing machine and get it started while I pack lunches and fix breakfast. By the time the girls make their way to school, I can transfer the load into the dryer and begin my work day. The simple act of a quick morning load of laundry keeps our home from being overtaken by piles and piles clothes.
Ask KIDS specific questions
Any parent of a child beyond the first grade knows the worst question you can ask your son or daughter after a long day at school is “How was your day?” More often than not, you’ll receive an answer like “OK” or “Good.” If you really want to connect with your child after a long day apart, ask more pointed questions. Try a few of these on for size:
“Did you learn something new today?”
“What was your favorite part of today?”
“Who did you eat lunch with today?”
“Were you brave today?”
“Did you tell someone thank you today?”
“Who inspired you today?”
We also use a discussion starter we call “Highs and Lows” to process the school day. Each family member shares a high — a really great occurrence from the day. They also share a low — a not so fun experience. This simple mechanism serves to open up our daughters’ hearts and minds, giving us a window into their world when they’re away from us.
Bring on the snacks
The flow of the school day restricts when kids have access to food and water throughout the day. As a result, some kids’ bodies and minds are stretched beyond what they should be at the end of the day. For this reason, be sure you have a healthy snack and some water ready for after school. If you pick them up from school, have it in the car. If they ride the bus home, try to have something within reach as soon as they hit the door.
Shore up the bedtime routine
While every family has different nighttime rituals, it’s important to establish some regular patterns. Our bodies need sleep. In order to get the best sleep possible, you may need to evaluate your habits before bed.
Set specific times. Kids and adults alike need to have specific times when they hit the hay. Consider setting an alarm on your phone to help you begin the process of winding down each day.
Turn off the screens. Studies show that the blue light emitted by technology screens like our TVs, phones and tablets can disturb our brains even after we go to bed. Consider turning off all electrical devices a full hour before bedtime.
Remove tech from bedrooms. The constant buzzing of notifications also disrupts your sleep. If you don’t know how to silence even the vibrations of your phone, remove the temptation from your sleeping space entirely. Go old school and purchase an alarm clock for your teen, too. Charge devices in a central location in your home.
Engage in a calming activity. Light reading, stretching and listening to music can all prepare your body for a good night’s sleep. Choose an activity that calms your body and soul before you go to bed. Read to your child. Sing a song together. Do yoga.
Instead of allowing the hurry and scurry of a new school year to wear everyone in your family down, choose habits that bring life. Build in practices that allow you to have breathing space and margin. May your season be filled with the opportunity to learn and grow right along with your kids this year.
