Who is already exhausted with the pace of the school year? It’s so busy right!! No matter how old or young your child is, once school starts it seems like time just goes twice as fast.
So how can we make this time really count when we get to see our babies only a few hours a day? How can we maximize our routine so that there is peace and structure but also time for them to be kids still?
What should we do about the grumpies or sassing that occurs because they are exhausted too? Well I’m no expert but here is the things that my husband and I do and think about to make the school year seem more stress free.
What I am doing different this year- making a designated area for their bags. This took just a little thought and now I am able to say – please go hang your bag up on the hook . The hope is that some day I will not have to ask them to do it, but who am I kidding, they are children and I know I will probably say it til they are graduated. LOL ..
This is way easier for me to go and look at their folders and determine what they need to do for homework or if I need to send anything back. On the note of sending things back to school – I do this as soon as I see them. When they bring home a permission slip, I sign it right away and put it back into their folders, because I am good at hiding things from myself! So I get it out of way!
Another thing we are doing or at least trying to do, is make lunches and pick out cloths the night before. This is still a pretty big work in progress, but hey I’m trying! Isn’t that what parenting is all about? Just trying to figure out the best way to do things?
Giving time for our kids to just be kids is a must in our home. They need to be outside and running around. Get dirty or just pet one of our animals. The kids need time to relax and play. Their brains are so exhausted by the end of the day. So at home we let them use their imagination and just play.
This is so important in their development too! We do make sure homework gets done, but after they have had some time to relax and rest.
Eating supper together at the table is a must too! Sure we do eat infront of the TV here and there but for the most part we are at the table talking to each other about our days. Some of the questions we ask them are – What was your favorite part of your day? – Who did you play with today? – Did you read any books today? – What are you looking forward to? – Who did you sit with on the bus?
We feel that the more we show them that we want to be involved in their days, the more they will want to share with us. Open communication between kids and parents is something that can really be so good for the rest of their lives. This is what we strive for.
With school making life go so much faster make sure you make time for those littles. Snuggle a few more minutes, read one more book at night, sit and have breakfast before they go to school. Whatever that time with your kids looks like for you is great!! Just take that time and make it count!
They are only young once. Take the time to really enjoy them!
You got this Mama!
-Kristy