Back to School

I can’t believe that school starts in less than two weeks!

We’ve had the best summer that I can remember, but having said that, it’s time to leave this party on a good note.

I am gearing up to start this year off strong.

And by gearing up, I mean waking up in a Code Red Anxiety Attack.

Will Thomas refuse to eat lunch on grounds that he had it yesterday and now hates it?

Will Marie be able to fall asleep before 9:30pm to ensure that she doesn’t meltdown in the morning due to exhaustion?

Will the afterschool grind actually break me this year?

I don’t have those answers yet (although I am sure at some point the answer will be a resounding “yes” to the afterschool grind breaking me).

What I can do is find peace in preparing the best way I know how.

Like last year’s post, I’ll be stocking up on some of my favorites and reinstituting our routines.

I also talked about it on a Live in the D segment, too. 

The time the kids helped me out on Live in the D on the Back to School Segment

I will also be sure to stock up on a nice bottle of champagne because I think that I am close enough to the finish line to toast to the end of summer/beginning of the 2015-2016 school year.

Cheers!  We are almost there!

To Thomas on Your First Day of Kindergarten

Thomas started Kindergarten this week.  Three years ago, I wrote Marie a letter on her first day of Kindergarten which Huffington Post Parents just picked up!  I would love it if you clicked on over and let me know what  you think.

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Dear Thomas,

Today is your big day; today you start Kindergarten.  I feel excited for you because in my heart, I know that you are ready.  Your preschool teachers told me with full confidence that you are ready both socially and academically.

These observations delivered peace to me since I pretty much doubt every parenting choice I have ever made (except that time I bought you a bunch of mini maze books on Amazon to keep you entertained in restaurants and car rides.  You pretty much refuse to do anything that requires you to hold a crayon . . . except for those books.  So I felt pretty solid on that decision).

Your sister probably has very different memories of her time leading up to Kindergarten since she had me all to herself. 

You, my dear, did not get a lot of alone time with me.  This is the default of any child other than the firstborn.  But I also started to dabble in blogging, writing, and social media when you were a baby.  As a new career started to gain traction, my time was fractioned even more and my mom guilt began to grow.

When you stepped on that bus, I was not worried about whether you were going to make it in Kindergarten.  I was worried about if I did my best with you.

Will you look back and feel cheated during all the times we sat in front of the TV together, me on my computer and you on your iPad, while I graded assignments and squeezed in writing time?

Will you be sad when you think of all the times I phoned it in while playing Imaginext characters since I am the worst pretend play mom in the ever?

 Or will you remember the fun crafty things we did together like spell your name with Cheerios or the time you got to play with marshmallows while learning how to add?

Or will you remember all the fun times we played I Spy when I took you out for macaroni and cheese with a yummy dessert at Panera every Thursday after gymnastics?

I am not sure what memories will stick (or which ones you might share with your future therapist).  Sometimes I think back on the time we spent together, and I am proud of all we did.  Other times I look through the years leading up to your first day of Kindergarten with guilt-laden glasses and think I could have done more.

As you got on that bus, I prayed that the Universe will be kind with you.  Having been a member of the Universe for about 36 years and teaching in public schools for some of that time, I know that this might be too much to ask.  So I hope that I have filled your bucket enough that you feel loved and special regardless of any misfortune that may happen to you.

As you depart for this new journey, know that I love you deeply and you can tell me anything, ANY.THING. (even that you decided to throw your lunch away because you were too busy talking to your new friends to eat peanut butter and celery).

Love,

Mommy

Back to School: Here’s Hoping for a More Organized, Less Anxious Year

School starts next week.  Next week!  I am a ball of mixed emotions, much of which I am still processing (and will over-share here).

Right now, I’m going to direct my nervous energy on getting organized because I am going to be on Live in the D talking about my back to school tips.  (Here's the clip from the show - what do you think?)

With Thomas starting full day Kindergarten (please see mixed emotions above), I need to bring my A-game.  The mornings where Thomas would wear his PJ top under his coat and real pants to the bus stop and lounge around in this getup before his 12:30 start preschool are over.

Organization

Calling on my classroom teacher experience (I love when I can apply my degree to my mothering skills, right?!), procedures always increased the chance that the day would run smoothly (please note the word “chance” and not “certainty.”)

Here’s a morning chart for Thomas I found at I Heart Organizing.  I like the photos since he’s still learning to read.

I couldn’t find the one with all the elements that I wanted for Marie, so I created my own in a word document inspired by Kiwi Crate.

They are laminated so they can check off each item.  And guess what?  No screen time until every single item is completed. Last year, I sounded like Fay Dunaway yelling about wire hangers in Mommy Dearest when I screamed, “No more iPad time EVER!”  I decided to take a more proactive approach this year.

I also made similar after school charts that were inspired by both Design Dazzle and Kiwi Crate.

Last year, I was always forgetting what day Marie had library or gym.  I found this chart at Living Locurto.  Amy uses a new one for each week, but I decided to laminate it so if the weekly schedule changes, I can just update it with the markers.

All of these elements are here with the wall mounted file holders and cup tot hold markers inspired again by Living Locurto.

I wanted to put all of this by their desk, but we didn’t have enough space.  So I used the bulletin board we already had to post fun, inspirational notes for the kids.

I also use baskets to divide up supplies, but if I had limited drawer space, I would use a desktop organizer.

Weekday Dinners/School Lunches

Packing lunches and making dinners are a huge component of going back to school and can be a huge source of anxiety for me.  I use this recipe for dinner when I am in a rush and can use change it up for lunch next day.

I take a box of black beans that are rinsed and drained.

I take a container of salsa and drain if it is too wet.  Sweet Onion by Garden Fresh is our favorite.

I mix them together.

Put then in a tortilla and microwave.

Add cheese and roll up.  Dinner is served!

For lunch, I take the black bean salsa and put it in a Gladware container and add chips and cheese (in a silicon baking up inspired by my favorite food blogger 100 Days of Real Food.  Sidebar – so excited to have her new cookbook and find more healthy ideas for lunches).

Then I add some fruit and veggies (cucumbers are the kids’ favorite).  I also add some walnuts and chocolate chips and then a treat.

See this pink bento box?  I bought it 3 years ago at Pottery Barn.
I use it almost every day.  It was totally worth the investment.

Easing Anxiety

Back to school anxiety was a huge issue for us last year.  I used essential oils in a roller balls and it really helped.  My favorite is Peace and Calming from YoungLiving. 

I put about 20 drops in an 8mL rollerball and fill it half way with a carrier oil.  (I used olive oil to avoid any nut oils).

Wrap it up in paper towel and put in a snack bag.  Marie would use it whenever she felt nervous.

When she started preschool and kindergarten, I added a family photo to her backpack and that was really helpful.

I think that Christmas photo would make anyone smile, right?!

And if I am going to be honest, I have a little anxiety with school starting.  I miss having time to do fun things with them without the pressures of school! swim! T-ball!

This year, since both of the kids will officially be spending more time at school than with me (again, please see mixed emotions), I am going to commit one weekday night for family fun.  Nothing fancy or complicated, just a half an hour or so with some Uno cards or a puzzle and popcorn.

 I am thinking that this may ease everyone's anxiety feeling connected to each other. I don't want to stop making fun memories together just because school has started!

Do you have any back to school tips?  Do you worry about feeling disconnected from your kids in the wake of commitments?

*I have not been compensated for the use of any of these products.