New routines and rhythms are here again. Can you believe it? But don’t fret because this probably isn’t your first rodeo. While back-to-school season can be rife with stress and anxiety, preparation and planning can lead to a smooth and rewarding transition.
For my family, this will be our first year where everyone is at different schools. Yikes!
Back in May, my rising ninth grader, Ella, graduated from Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal School (GSL), and made her decision to enroll at White Station High School this fall. Being the only student in her class with that school choice, she has already begun making new friends through cheerleading. Proud papa over here.
My younger daughter, Beatrice, will be entering sixth grade at GSL, while my wife, Annie, will be returning to Libertas School for another exciting year of teaching primary classes.
Life comes at you fast, they say. And it’s so true. How are my little girls in middle and high school? And how are we six years removed from the start of COVID? I remember wishing for time to speed up back then so we could get through the chaos, fear, and uncertainty of a global pandemic. Be careful what you wish for, I guess.
Going back to those sweet innocent days, while enticing, does come with its own set of stressors, I admit. So let’s keep pushing forward. Time marches on after all.
If you think about it, school starting back is one of the best markers of time we have. It gives us that structure we all crave whether we’d like to admit it or not. Sure, it’s fun to have loosey-goosey summer days with no agenda but I do much better when there are things to look forward to like fall weather and football season. I’m at my worst when I don’t have a goal or project to focus on.
One thing I spent most of the summer thinking about was logistics and how we are going to make sure everyone gets to where they are going this school year.
Thankfully, we have some carpools in place for Ella, and since we live so close to GSL and have so many friends in the neighborhood, Beatrice can walk, if need be. That is if she can get up on time. Alas.
All this to say, I came up with a quippy list of tips to help us all get back into the school year groove.
- Give yourself grace. No one is perfect and no one expects you to be.
- Do what you can in advance to make each day flow more smoothly. This could mean laying out school outfits and packing lunches.
- Start resetting sleep schedules two weeks out from returning to school.
- Reset screen limits.
- Return to the kitchen table for family dinners.
- Complete all paperwork in advance of school returning.
- Do backpack checks for the first two weeks of school.
- Confirm where everyone is going the night before the start of each day.
- Make notes on your calendar to adjust to new activities and responsibilities.
- Communicate with your village so everyone knows their role if there is a sudden crisis or catastrophic event that takes place. A good emergency plan never hurts anyone.
Good luck and Godspeed to you all.
Jeff Hulett is a freelance writer, musician, and PR consultant in Memphis. He lives in the Central Gardens neighborhood with his wife Annie, two girls Ella and Beatrice, and two dogs Chalupa and Delilah.