Back to School

Back to school. Each year those three words cause a flurry of emotion.  For students it means their time of relaxation and freedom has come to an end. It’s back to schedules and for the younger ones set bedtimes.  For parents it’s a time to sigh as their babies are a year older and perhaps more independent. For some it’s the final year they will live under the same roof as graduation looms in June.  This time of year, is both blessing and curse as parents relax knowing the children will be taken care of during the day without them serving as entertainment director, and yet feeling like you would like to slow down time. Never in the history of back to school has these three words cause such worry and anxiety.  

Change often causes anxiety yet as the old saying goes, “there is nothing to fear but fear itself”. The one definite thing that we can hold on to is this, change happens. Everyday change takes place whether it is the changing of the seasons, the growth of a child, the passing of time.  It is going to happen whether we want it to or not.  So, we can be fearful and anxious or we can embrace the changes of 2020, here are a few tips for BACK to SCHOOL this year…

1. Focus on the important things. Family, friends and loved ones, the world at large is a scary place so let’s focus on our immediate world.  Take time to be with the people you care most about, have dinner around the table, play games together. Make memories with people in person.

2. Put down your devices.  Technology is a great tool, but it is also a great distraction.  Take time to actually talk face to face.  You will see that in person discussions are way more fun than that little text box.  Talk about what you think the next school year will bring, let your kids know that you are willing to listen to them encourage them to ask questions.

3. Shut off the Media.  Whether it is social or Fox News, CNN or Live at 5, shut it down.  Close up those newspapers, magazines and all the other naysayers for a while. I am not saying bury your head in the sand, but constant negativity has an effect on the human psyche. A great way to stop fear is to not listen to those whose ratings depend on sensationalism even if is for a short time.

Yes, things are going to be different for a little while, maybe for a long while.  Hey perhaps this is going to be normal from now on (I sincerely hope not) but no matter what we are all in the same boat.  I was given a piece of advice a little while ago and it went something like this, “Kids are resilient but they get their attitude from the cues their parents give them.”  So how do you want them to face the changes of back to school? What cues will you give them? 

Change happens….so adapt.