Parenting is no joke. As the summer draws to an end, I find myself dreading the back to school grind. It’s not because my children are young and need me to do all the work. It’s because I have teens and they have so many ideas about how to do things. As we prep for back to school, I realize that we have a lot of things to figure out. My youngest daughter is always trying to stay up late to watch one more television show. My oldest daughter is plotting to get up at 4:30 am to film her morning routine for her YouTube channel. Needless to say, I need help. So, I’ve developed a few tips and tricks over the years that help me survive the back to school grind. I hope they help you too.
Ease back into bed time: Summer time schedules tend to be less rigid than school schedules. However, the tendency of teens to stay up late is a given around the world. a few weeks before school starts, help your teens ease back into a school routine by waking them a little earlier every day. In the days before school starts, have your children wake up at their school alarm time so they won’t have a problem on the first day of school.
Prepare the night before: Getting dressed in the morning and off to school can be a hassle. For my daughters, I encourage showering and picking clothes at night. That way, all they have to do in the morning is a quick wash and put on their clothes. Additionally, I try to have quick breakfast bars and fruit available for days when they don’t have time for breakfast. Every minute saved takes stress off of all of us getting ready at once.
Buy school supplies early and alone: School supplies are varied and can be expensive. However, most stores begin to put out school supplies for sale in the early summer. You can can save a lot of money by shopping the sales. You can save even more by not taking your children with you. Purchase all the basic supplies on sale and let your children choose one or two special things that they must have.
Develop a plan: Whether it is electronic or on paper, a schedule is essential to making things run smoothly. Whether you have to plan for after school activities or a first job, keeping it organized is essential. As teenagers, they can play a crucial role in helping make a schedule that works for the whole family. Just remember to keep it flexible to make time for homework and fun.
Do one fun thing: Everything can’t be about schedules and planning. Take time out to do a fun thing as a family. Summer only lasts so long. Make time do a fun activity as a family before the school year begins. After all, they are closer to adults than children now. Enjoy a little fun before they leave your house and go out on their own.