August is basically another New Years for moms, right? New schools, new teachers, new schedules, everything starts over and we get a chance for a fresh start. Listen in today for Karen's tips on hitting the reset button and starting off on the right foot this school year.

Mentioned on today’s episode:

YouVersion plan: 10 Days to a Better Back to School

Snag Karen’s devotional and start the school year off right: Moments with God for Moms

Question 1: School starts next week and I am seriously mourning the end of summer! I love lazy mornings and the freedom to go and do all kinds of things with my kids. Any suggestions for how I can snap myself back into school mode? 

Karen’s Answer: Summer, lazy days are fun, especially if you have a more laid- back personality. ☺ A few suggestions I have are to keep in some of your freedom from the summer. I know your schedule is set for the week, but on the weekend, let the kids sleep in, make an ice cream run after dinner on Saturday or Sunday, just to keep the fun going a little while longer.  Another suggestion is to embrace the more structured part of back to school.  Start doing something for YOU this school year.  Take up a new hobby or craft that you’ve always wanted to learn to do, read a book a month, or start a BOAW group with a few of your friends.  Make it your best year yet.

Question 2: I love the routine that comes when school starts back up in the fall! :) My kids are 14 and 9. This year they’ll be in 3rd grade and a freshman in high school! But with sports and homework, our evenings look a little disjointed…family dinner is not easy to pull off in the fall! How do you keep family time a priority in the middle of this busy season?

Karen’s Answer: I love this question, because it is REAL life.  There are seasons where your family will feel disjointed.  My advice is to do the best you can.  Just know, it is a season! When you can carve out some family time, but try not to stress over it.  It will only last a few months. But, during those seasons, I would get the calendar out and see where there was an open space and plan a fun family night for that night.  Movie nights were always one of our favorites, ordering pizza and popping popcorn and gathering around with blankets and pillows in our pj’s and watching a movie together was always fun. I used to get candy at the grocery store just to make it extra fun!

Question 3: How do you decide if your kid is ready to walk to school on their own? (Asking for a 7 year old…school is less than a mile away, only one turn outside of our neighborhood.)

Karen’s Answer: I guess my question is “how mature are they?” We never lived close enough to our schools for our children to walk to school, but that does sound amazing! My other question, is how safe is your area?  I would do a lot of coaching with your child.  Are they walking alone or with a group? A group would make me feel better.  You could walk it with them a few times and coach them along the way: (Be aware as you are walking home, look both ways before you cross the street, don’t talk to strangers, etc.)

Question 4: We got out of the habit of attending church regularly during covid. I’ll be honest, I got used to sleeping in and having wide open Sundays.  My 5th grader (when Covid hit) is now entering 8th grade and I’m realizing I really want him to be involved in church as a high schooler, so with school starting up again, it feels like a good time to jump back in and have him make some friends there before high school. Any suggestions for helping ease back into this routine? 

Karen’s Answer: Just do it! I don’t think easing in makes it better, just jump in full force.  I would beforehand have a conversation and let your son know, “we got out of this habit, but we still believe that church is a priority and we are going to start going again on a regular basis.”  Own your part mom, he may not love your decision, especially in the 8th grade, but be honest. Pray and ask God to prepare all of your hearts. 

Question 5: School mornings have historically been a hectic mess around here. What tricks can I use to make life go a little more smoothly come 6am? 

Karen’s Answer: Be prepared.  Do everything you can the night before, outfit picked out, lunch packed, papers signed, backpacks ready.  The more you do the night before the smoother it will run. Get your children up with plenty of time for breakfast, get dressed, teeth brushed, etc.  No t.v. until they are completely ready for school, shoes on- the whole 9 yards! 

Moms, we know your time is precious. Thank you for spending it with us. We hope you feel encouraged, equipped and most importantly—the peace of God. You can receive encouragement each week by tuning in to Wire Talk; so subscribe today and be sure you never miss an episode.

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