WT 379: Establishing Routines and Rhythms for a New Year
The start of school each year is like January 1st for families. New activities, new schedules, and oftentimes, new stresses! Today Karen is answering your questions about the transition from summer to school, how to stay involved in your child’s class, fostering independence in your older kids, and the mindset moms need to embrace when schedules are crazy and you are juggling allllllll the things!
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Question 1: How did you transition your children from the more relaxed summer schedule to a structured school routine? We’ve been staying up late, eating too much junk food and watching too much TV - re-entry is NOT going well over here.
Karen’s Answer: Honestly, I just ripped off the band-aid, and we dove right in. I do think the week before, I started making them go to bed a little earlier every night. Every family is different. You know me, I just went for it! Every mom knows their family the best. But, I stick with the diving in approach.
Question 2: I’m a full time working mom and this is the first year I’ll have two kids in school - preK and 3rd grade. Do you have any tips for staying involved in your children's school when you can’t be a room mom or volunteer? I want to maintain open lines of communication with their teachers and am feeling a little overwhelmed.
Karen’s Answer: I think communicating to the teacher early on, your work schedule and letting her know you want to be involved. Ask for projects you can do from home like cutting things, sending in supplies, etc. Most teachers understand because a lot of them are working moms as well, so they actually will have sympathy for you. Keep communication open.
Question 3: At what age is it reasonable to expect my kids to manage their own schedules, deadlines, and commitments? I feel like I am the keeper OF ALL THE THINGS. Practices, games, assignments that are due, your best friend’s birthday party that you need to buy a gift for…etc. I want to scream sometimes that I have my own life I need to remember too! We have a family calendar, but I seem to be the only one who writes anything down and/or remembers to look at it. I have a middle school daughter and a freshman son this year.
Karen’s Answer: Oh Lord! Middle school and high school they should for sure be owning their own stuff. I was going to say 3rd grade for school work, and 6th grade for practices, games, etc. But middle and high school – yes! Remember they will probably drop the ball a few times, but that is okay. Keep them to keep moving forward. Start in 3rd grade and keep progressing forward.
Question 4: How did you handle the challenges of different schedules and activities for each child, especially if they were involved in multiple extracurricular activities or had different school start and end times? I feel like we are ships passing in the night over here, with two elementary students up and off early, then a middle schooler who can sleep a bit later and gets home later than they do. The morning routine and after school routine are prolonged now for my husband and I and then in the evenings we have practices multiple nights a week for 2 different kids. Is this just reality for the next decade of life!? Any tips for maintaining some sanity?
Karen’s Answer: Well, it’s reality if your children love the sports they are in. I will say those years are busy and you are like ships passing in the night. But, that’s not a bad thing. We had a lot of great times in the car, at the games, picnics in the parking lot (not fancy picnics but sandwiches in zip lock bags and a bag of chips). We made it work. And I loved how each of the children would celebrate the others in their games, plays, equestrian meets, etc. You have to figure out what works for your family. And I’m into this saying these days, Progress over Perfection.
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