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Back-to-school insanity season

Posted Thu, Aug 30, 2007
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Remember that back-to-school commercial from a few years back? The one that was set to the holiday tune It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year? I remember laughing out loud the first few times I saw it until I realized that I was being sold the ultimate parent world fantasy: the idea that back-to-school season means a return to routine and sanity on the homefront.

Back-to-school sanity season?

Back-to-school insanity season is more like it.

I find that back-to-school insanity season kicks in the moment the kids arrive home from that first day back at school and start rhyming off all the things they need to bring to school the very next day or else. (That "or else" hangs in the air, hinting of fates too horrible to put into words: kids given year-long detentions, expelled for life or forced to live with the principal.)

And so, in an effort to spare our kids the unfathomable torture of "or else," we parents embark on first-night-of-school treasure hunts, trying to track down the last remaining pair of indoor shoes in town (ones that won't leave black marks in the school hallways, of course), the 17 random bits-and-pieces on the "must haves" list for the fall nature art or science project (pinecones? petri dishes?), and the inevitable wildcard item that varies from year to year and grade to grade.

Your odds of making a seamless transition into a new school year are pretty slim, unless, of course, you've traded your real-world kids for some of those über-perfect children who tend to show up in the last half of How to Be a Perfect Parent parenting videos. In the real world, parents and kids get overtired and edgy once the first-day adrenaline starts to wear off. They may find it difficult to wind down to sleep and even more difficult to get up in the morning.

So how do you get through this first week without experiencing a total family meltdown?

  • Pare your to-do list down to the essentials. You want this first week back at school to be fun, not frantic).
  • Serve healthy, yet easy to prepare dinners. (One of our faves: grilled cheddar and apple sandwiches with fresh veggies and then yogurt-and-fruit smoothies for dessert.)
  • Make sleep a priority so you'll be able to get up on the right side of bed in the morning. A few sleep tips: go easy on the caffeine, particularly after mid-afternoon; get some exercise during the day or early evening; create a sleep-friendly environment — one that's dark, cool and quiet — and take a warm bath or shower one to two hours before you want to drift off to dreamland). This advice applies to parents as well as kids.

The rollercoaster ride of back-to-school season is a lot easier to cope with when you're getting sleep, eating well and taking time for yourself. Remember, the school year is a 10-month-long marathon event that requires endurance. Don't treat it like a sprint or you'll be out of steam by Halloween.

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8 Comments

  • 1. Posted by Mia T on Thu, Aug 30, 2007

    I used to LOVE that commercial, until I had kids. You're right-as teachers we have a lot of "or elses". I'm going to have to remember that. A word to the wise though. Pencil crayons are a great "have already" when starting school....we do title pages on the first day!

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  • 2. Posted by Vicki B on Mon, Sep 03, 2007

    Teachers have a lot to handle those first days, and as parents we need to do our part. The school supply list is given for a reason and I'm well aware of people who chose to ignore it and buy whatever the child wants despite the list. In a lot of primary grades, supplies are collected and then handed out as needed. While most kids have brought in the proper items, the ones who have not still end up with the given supplies. Mid-way through the school year, a desperate note from the teacher comes home for more supplies. If everyone had brought these first required items in, would there still be a shortage. Who knows? But as parents, we should send in the required items in the first place and try to help those teachers get through the school year.

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  • 3. Posted by buixon on Tue, Sep 04, 2007

    i know exactly what you mean, and i have to keep at it every year....

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  • 4. Posted by imckay@rogers.com on Tue, Sep 04, 2007

    Hey Vicki B, Do your kids attend an upper middle class school? Colored pencils are not a priority, learning is.

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  • 5. Posted by Cory on Tue, Sep 04, 2007

    I feel for the parents that truely can't afford the extras. The kids feel such pressure. I don't have children in school anymore but that doesn't stop me from buying the "must haves" and sending along to the nearest school. I also ad in a gift certificate for the Walmart so someone can get those inside shoes, or extras.

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  • 6. Posted by anndouglas on Thu, Sep 06, 2007

    Cory - That's really great that you make a point of thinking of other families who really struggle to find the money to buy what can seem like an endless list of extras at this time of year. In my community, the local newspaper has a special fund for kids who would otherwise do without things that most kids today take for granted -- like the opportunity to participate in school field trips.

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  • 7. Posted by anndouglas on Thu, Sep 06, 2007

    Mia T - I bet you're an awesome teacher, just judging by your warm and supportive comments here. And I think most parents (myself included) understand that there have to be lists and rules or school would be total chaos. I only get freaked out as a parent when everything needs to be done instantly. Sometimes instantly isn't an option in our household. :-)

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  • 8. Posted by anndouglas on Thu, Sep 06, 2007

    As you can see, I succumbed to back-to-school insanity season. I'm slower-than-usual in responding to comments. Sorry I got behind!

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