Avoiding Back-To-School Chaos!!!

An article by Stacy Barry

It’s hard not to notice school is just around the corner when images of binders, crayons, and bouquets of sharpened pencils are popping up on every advertisement in sight.

Each year many of us are shocked and the craziness that a new school year brings us. Honestly it simply paralyzes us briefly. Why each year do we have to give ourselves a pep talk and tell ourselves “you can do this.” This year will be different in the Barry household! This year I decided I will relieve the pressure I put on myself and the same pressure that seeps into my families’ daily routine. In the 2011/2012 year, I won’t be going for the Super Mom award as I’ve done in the past. Instead I will sit down and make as many lists as I need and devise a family plan. This year I think I will actually share my plan with my family. LOL!

My goal this year is to avoid the “do it all schedules.” I’m slowly learning that my son sees how I handle situations. It is vital to be a role model and teach him that being prepared for situations and taking on a positive attitude makes all the difference in the world! So there will be no super mom award in my house, but I am planning a much calmer start and transition to a great school year!

In attempt to avoid as much chaos as possible below are a few tips about how to relieve the stress brought on by lack of preparation:
1. Make bedtimes mandatory. Getting into a routine of “lights out” and “rise and shine” early may cause grumbling now, but it will minimize the whining when school finally does start back up.

2. Set up homework stations. Deciding where the kids will do their homework and putting everything in place will foster a comfortable learning environment that will help them focus outside of school.

3. Order online. Even if they don’t all arrive before school starts, ordering school clothes online will save unpleasant time pushing your way through lines at the mall. Buy a variety of mixes and matches so the kids can create their own individual style. Remember! Try not to buy more summer clothes just because your kids will still be in shorts for a couple more weeks – let them stick with the clothes they’ve been wearing all summer and focus on clothing that will transition into fall.

4. Set up the night and morning routines. Having a routine for both going to school and going to bed will minimize stress on your end and make the “getting ready” process even more quickly. You can either type out routines and hang them on their bedroom walls, or purchase a timer that helps younger kids stay on track called the On-Task On-Time for Kids at www.TimelyMatters.com.

5. Get yourself organized. Find a system that will easily help you stay on top of PTA meetings, class trips and soccer practice. While there are several products on the market now specifically help moms stay organized, I prefer binders with tabs because they are inexpensive and simple to update and swap out.

Sometimes going back to the basics makes all the difference in the world! Happy summer!