How Parents Can Overcome the Stress & Overwhelm of This Year’s Back to School Experience
Back to school season is always a little bit stressful—a new school year means new teachers, a new phase of life for your kiddo, and the implementation of new routines. But in 2020, back to school season is more worrisome than ever before.
Depending on what part of the country you live in, your family may or may not be gearing up to send your kids back to in-person schooling—and you might have a variety of complex feelings about the reality you’re facing. If you’re like most parents I know, you’re probably . . .
- Worried about your child’s safety, and the safety of other children and teachers in your district.
- Concerned about how you’re going to make schooling from home feasible in the meantime, if that’s what needs to happen.
- Unsure of how you’re going to balance your mom-life and work-life if your kids are suddenly home all day—especially if you have small children, or if you’re back to working in-person rather than working from home.
I wish I could wave a magic wand and tell you everything is going to be just fine . . . The truth is, this is an extremely difficult time for many families, and there simply aren’t a lot of good answers.
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However—that does NOT mean that your health and happiness should take a backseat.
Today, I want to offer up a few ideas around how you can survive the stress of back to school season, without compromising on your healthy habits or your mental health.
1. Go ahead and make peace with the fact that there will be road bumps.
This might sound pessimistic, but hear me out—at a time like this, unexpected inconveniences are sure to pop up. We can simultaneously expect the best and plan for the worst, as they say. Prepare yourself mentally so that whenever a particularly difficult day does come along, you’ll be better equipped to get through it without losing your cool.
2. Make workout and self-care dates with yourself on your calendar.
I mean it! Hop onto your calendar right now and block out time when you’ll take care of YOU. Treat it like a regular appointment. By taking care of yourself, you’ll be able to take better care of your family.
3. Strategize to simplify your mealtimes.
If everyone’s home, that means everyone’s going to need to eat a few times each day—but it doesn’t mean that you’re everyone’s personal chef. Think about how you can make mealtime easier. Maybe this means doing meal prep as a family every single Sunday, or maybe it means commissioning one of your older kids to prep simple afternoon lunches for the younger kids. Remember: Your family’s needs are unique, and your mealtime routines don’t have to look like those of your friends.
4. Talk to your kids about the importance of recharging.
The best way to teach your kids about the importance of self-care is leading by example. Talk about how and why you’re taking little breaks in your day. Encourage your kids to do the same. Remind them that expressing their feelings and spending a little time each day on something that makes them happy is extra important right now. Use this challenging time as an opportunity to cultivate resilience and good self-care habits.
5. Give yourself—and your family members, and your kids’ teachers—a whole heap of grace.
No one has ever been precisely where we are right now, so it’s okay that we’re all still figuring it out. Whether your kids are heading back to school or prepping for remote learning, there are bound to be mistakes along the way. All you can do is learn from them and keep going. Don’t beat yourself up every time something goes amiss. In the end, this will be a great lesson on resilience for your kids.
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Related Post: Beating The Back-To-School Blues
DAWN MCGEE
Dawn McGee is a certified and licensed Nutrition Evangelist and a long-time foodie, she focuses on both the health and joy of food as fuel for your body. She is a driving force in bringing education on healthy eating to more people through her community, my “Reclaim Your Life, One Bite at a Time” programs, and my book “365 Days of Healthy Living”. Her hope for you is that you live a life you love, without being hungry, feeling deprived, or giving up your glass
