After the first week of school excitement, kids and parents start to settle into a routine. For some, it’s an easier transition, with just a few hiccups along the way — but for others, there are more difficult days than not.
As a parent, I know the struggle of having a child who had school anxiety. I remember the days of kindergarten when we went through all the normal steps to get ready — wake up, have breakfast, get dressed, pack a lunch and zip up the backpack — but it wasn’t until it was time to get on the school bus that my son’s anxiety started. His stomach would hurt and he felt physically unwell. He refused to get on the bus. Some days it would calm down enough for him to get on; many days we didn’t make it.
There was a lot of stress for him and me, because a seemingly perfect start to the school year turned out to be a daily battle. I think back on this as I read “Dealing with School Avoidance” in this issue (pg. 26), and I wish I asked more questions and got extra help. However, it wasn’t something I sought advice for, but rather put on a happy face for everyone. Honestly, I didn’t handle it as well as I could have, because I didn’t understand his struggle to put into words why it was happening.
As parents, we have to remember that everyone might be going through something unknown to the world, no matter what it looks like on social media. Rosy expectations of a perfect school year also might end up with some disappointments.
The one thing I maybe did get right was not allowing that imperfect experience to overshadow my son’s future school experiences.
With that in mind, as the school season starts, our content also won’t paint a perfect picture, either. In this issue, we talk about school avoidance, but also when it’s OK to say no, along with kids and rage quitting video games, which I feel is timely as we transition away from summer freedoms.
My goal has always been to bring you content that hopefully can make life a bit easier, such as the “Make Ahead Mornings” story that provides easy-to make, freeze and reheat breakfast recipes.
With the fall season on the horizon, we want families to enjoy everything it has to offer, including nighttime adventures. See our “Fall Fun After Dark” article to find nocturnal local happenings for the whole family.
This might be a milestone year for your child. Some may be starting kindergarten or preschool, others might be jumping into a new school or even starting their last year as a student. Whatever the case, it’s a fresh start with lots of different successes and challenges on the horizon. Just remember that whatever the year brings, take a breath, take care of yourself and don’t forget to text your friends or ask for help, if needed.
