WT 221: How Do I Handle the Anxiety Surrounding Back to School This Year? with Dr. Chinwé Williams
Plans for school this year are changing daily in school districts around our nation. One thing we know for sure this year? We have no idea what to expect! That’s why we brought Dr. Chinwé Williams into the studio today, to ask for her wisdom and experience as a therapist and mom about how we can handle our own anxiety surrounding going back to school and how to help our children navigate these strange days.
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
Find Dr. Williams online: www.meaningfulsolutionscounseling.com
Question 1: Back in the spring when COVID hit and schools went virtual basically overnight, it felt like everyone just did the best they could and survived until we made it to the finish line, but this year...this year we are walking into the entire year with a different perspective. Moms are intentionally making different choices for the school year or they know things are going to be really different. Many moms and kids alike in our community have been carrying tons of underlying anxiety all summer long about what this year looks like. Are you seeing that in your practice as well?
Question 2: Okay, we’re going to start things off with a bang. And this question came in from multiple moms, so I think it’s something a lot of families are wondering about. “For their psyche….would it be better to homeschool this year or send my kids to school (under who knows what the guidelines will be!) I have 4 kids, in 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th grade. “
Another mom piggybacked on that question by adding, “When we had to distance learn I was so worried about them falling behind academically. Now all I care about is if going to school with all the restrictions going to hurt them more emotionally/mentally then falling behind academically. This is all I think about these days. 😔” What are your thoughts Dr. Williams?
Question 3: Our next question also hits close to home for a lot of moms: I am a divorced mom who really cannot do virtual or homeschool for my rising 4th and 1st graders. (I have a 4 yr old too). I have a full time job. I am nervous that they will not have a good experience at school with all the new restrictions. But I do not have family nearby. I guess I want to know what to tell them (my 4th grade girl has anxiety stomach aches) that won’t promote fear.
Question 4: This momma writes: I have a four year old spunky and outgoing girl who will hopefully go back to preschool this fall since they follow the school system calendar. Since we’ve spent SO much time together without other caregivers, she’s having major separation anxiety when we leave her with a sitter these days (screaming ‘I don’t want you’ at the sitter and then partially waking throughout that night screaming for mama since I didn’t put her to bed….) How can I deal with it now and also prepare her to go back to school and not be a mess? Thanks so much!
Question 5: There is an underlying current of anxiety in our house due to daddy always being home during Corona (when we are used to office days and 2 to 3 nights per week of travel or business dinners) I feel like “big Brother” is constantly looking over my shoulder and I end up not being consistent like I normally would for fear of him thinking I’m disciplining too much or too little or I give in to toddler’s demands to not start a big fight with him. The tension and fighting has I’m sure caused anxiety and stress for our four year old daughter, and she’s acting out with me most so he claims she and I “aren’t getting along these days” yet it’s only when he’s around, and I’m not free to do what I need to do. Help!?
Question 6: My 4year old daughter will start Kindergarten in August. She thrives on routine, is “ready” academically, and we’re all excited about her starting “big girl school”. Her primary love language is physical touch and she can struggle with the concept of “personal space”. How can we best prepare her to go to school and experience all the joys that come with Kindergarten while still instilling good personal boundaries that help keep her, her classmates and her teachers as safe and healthy as possible without crushing her natural “need” to be a social butterfly and around all of her friends?
Question 7: Dr. Williams, thank you so much for joining us in the studio today. Would you tell moms how they can connect with you online or in the real world and/or what resources you have that moms listening might want to take advantage of as they navigate this school year with their child?
Show Credits: hosted by Karen Stubbs with Sunny Williams, written & produced by Katie Leipprandt, edited by Kyle Cummings
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