September, for many of us, is like a mini-New Year!
Now that we are a couple weeks in, the new routines are starting to settle in. (Maybe).
We have started a new school year with all our fresh calendars and fully sharpened pencils. We got new shoes and new clothes.
There are new after school activities and football season on TV.
All of this new-ness brings a ton of excited energy.
If you are not starting new things this year, you might even feel left out, or worse "behind." You are not behind!
But it can be a little dysregulating - all of this newness and change.
I keep getting the new schedule wrong. We showed up for the start of soccer season a week early and (spoiler alert, there was nobody there!) I thought that dance lessons started next week but really they start TODAY (and we still need new shoes for that). I have written the schedule in no less than three different places and still have to go back and check it at least ten times per day.
There's so much to remember!!
As we transition out of the "dog days of summer" and the relaxed pace that goes along with it into the cooler but more fast paced and often jam packed schedules of fall, sink in to rituals and routines.
Things to help you (and your kids) with transitions:
1. WRITE IT DOWN. Put the calendar on the wall or fridge or in a place that everyone can see it. (Also, I've been using Notion for ALL. THE.THINGS. It's like having a second-brain! My favorite NEW thing, for sure!).
2. REVIEW IT together. Go over the agenda for the day/week with everyone in the family. Make sure that people understand things like (when we will have time for dinner?, who is driving whom and where?, what time do you need to be ready? and what stuff do we need?)
3. PLAN AHEAD when possible. This is the season of the crock pot or the Instapot (whichever is your personal flavor), and of easy to grab snacks and batched lunches or meals. Spend a little time on Sunday prepping and you will save yourself a lot of stress in the end.
4. HAVE A NIGHTLY ROUND-UP. Before bed, clean up. Find your water bottles and backpacks and have a calm down ritual for everyone.
5. GIVE IT TIME. Go easy on yourself and your children as we figure out the new expectations for this year. Laugh at yourself when you're the only person at the soccer field. Be flexible with your plans. It's okay to make mistakes!
6. HAVE FUN. Did you know that tomorrow (September 13th) is KIDS TAKE OVER THE KITCHEN DAY? Have some with that and give yourself a night off! Does that mean you end up with cereal and pop-tarts with a side of carrots? Maybe! But that's what fall is all about right? NEW THINGS!
Do something different and see what happens. Make it fun. Give yourself a break.
(And go Noles! #FloridaState)
|
