Back to School
Changing of the seasons can feel overwhelming, lets conquer the anxiety together!
As a mom of little kids with a spouse who travels for work, you know that each season of the year comes with its own set of joys and challenges. The school year brings routine and familiarity, while summer offers a more relaxed atmosphere.
During the school year, many moms find comfort in the established routines that come with school schedules. The predictability of the school day helps create structure and consistency for both parents and children. Kids have their daily routines, and moms can plan their days around school drop-offs and pick-ups, extracurricular activities, and work commitments.
Lets chat about some of the advantages:
The Schedule: Having a set school schedule can help moms plan their days better. It allows for time management and makes it easier to balance household responsibilities, work, and personal time.
Social Interaction: School provides children with the opportunity to interact with peers, fostering social skills and friendships that are invaluable for their development.
Engaging Activities: Extracurricular activities during the school year offer children opportunities to explore their interests and talents.
These advantages are great but lets get to the meat of why we're all here, how to navigate the challenges:
Drop-offs and Pick-ups: As the only parent available, handling drop-offs and pick-ups can be challenging, especially if they clash with your work hours or other commitments.
At the beginning of the school year establish who can pick up your children other than you. When your spouse travels, make sure these people know you might be calling on them if needed to pick up your kids in a pinch.
Extracurricular Activities: Organizing and managing extracurricular activities can become overwhelming when you're the sole parent responsible.
I always make sure everything is washed and in the laundry basket (see my blog post 5 ways I prepare my house for my husband to leave). I also put all extracurricular stuff into the trunk of my car (here is the organizer I love) because someone is bound to forget a hockey stick or baseball glove, which will undoubtably send me into a tailspin.
Juggling Responsibilities: Balancing your own responsibilities, such as work and household tasks, while ensuring your child's academic and extracurricular needs are met can be a juggling act. I know, I am a 9-5 woman working for the man and its hard. There are days where I wonder if I should have just called in sick because I can hardly handle the boss and my real boss(es) - the kids!
The best advice I can give you is to set your boundaries and stick to them. I make sure my work calendar reflects when my husband travels and I create meetings on my calendar during pick up and drop off time, this way co-workers don’t schedule meetings during that time. Also stick to your must do list and don’t try to do more. Remember to find time for yourself and breathe.
The school year offers the comfort of routine and familiarity, but it can be challenging. Embrace the advantages and tackle the challenges with patience and adaptability. Remember, you are a resilient and resourceful mom, and by finding the right balance and support, you can navigate the school year with grace and confidence. Each season brings its own precious moments and opportunities for growth, so cherish them and savor the journey of motherhood, knowing that you are doing an incredible job, no matter the season.
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