Getting Ready for School…For Parents!

Amy Fauss
August 6, 2012

It's only natural that children receive the lion share of attention when it comes to back to school preparations. Goodness knows there is much to consider as we ready our little ones for the long days of learning that lie ahead (and the long nights of homework, too.) There are school supplies to gather, uniforms and new shoes to purchase, anxieties to address, and so on.

But what about getting ourselves—the parents—ready for the relentless onslaught of alarm clocks, making lunches, carpools, after-school activities, and weekly take-home folders that are looming just around the bend? Tackling new routines and finding solid ground amidst the ever-moving treadmill of school activity requires physical stamina, mental toughness, and an emotional reservoir of patience and calm that most of us don't readily have at our disposal.

So what can we do to make sure we're ready? Consider these five tips for making the transition into the new school year a happy one!

1. Create a family calendar. Whether you prefer the handwritten variety hanging on the refrigerator or the computer-based design that the whole family can plug into, it's essential to have each family member's activities and appointments scheduled in one place.
2. Delegate, delegate, delegate! Make sure each person knows what he or she is responsible for, like setting out clothes and packing the backpack the night before, or feeding the pets in the morning before helping to make breakfast. With today's busy schedules, it's imperative for everybody to pitch in and work as a team.
3. Save time (and gas) when you can. Carpools can truly be a lifesaver. It makes much more sense to share driving responsibilities with a neighbor or nearby friend than it does to handle all of the transportation on your own. Try to coordinate drop offs and pick ups (and even after school activities) when you can.
4. Plan ahead. This is an obvious one. If you're going to need paper sacks, baggies, juice boxes, and so on for packing lunches, then stock up on them now. Go ahead and gather up poster board and any other craft supplies you might need for projects that will inevitably be put off until the night before they're due. As sure as the sun rises, your child will need teacher gifts, so go ahead and pick up a few gift cards to a local coffee shop to use when you need them.
5. Breathe. The school year will be hectic, this we know. So find whatever it is that helps you keep your sanity: a trip to the gym early in the morning, drinks with your friends, or a nap on Sunday afternoon. Know what you need to help maintain a sense of peace and serenity for yourself, and make sure you carve out time to care for yourself.

Hopefully these tips will help get you through at least the first few months of the new school year. And if all else fails, just countdown the days until holiday break. It will be here before we know it!