Back to school can be a hallowed, not harrowing, experience

By Stacy LaMorte
NOLA Catholic Parenting

As this summer winds down and (dare I say it?) the beginning of the school year is on the horizon (ugh! I said it!), we can allow the craze of back to school to get us into a stressed-out frenzy.

Here are quick tips to retain your summer peace while still preparing for the upcoming school year:

1.  Take a little bit of time for yourself each day to stay in touch with God and to take care of yourself. A 15-minute bath, a guided meditation as you fall asleep or a trip to your nearest adoration chapel does wonders to refresh and renew you, helping you to be the best version of yourself. God will give you every ounce of grace you need to get everything done in his time.
2.  Communicate as a couple and as a family about your expectations for the rest of the summer. Unvoiced expectations can never be met, so be sure to have your kids speak up about things they would still like to do and discuss as a family if there is still time and money to do them.
3.  Set a budget for what your family can afford to spend on school supplies, dorm supplies, etc., and then shop the sales. This can be almost like a game and a great way to teach your kids about managing money, as well.
4. Fill in your family calendar with all the important dates your kids’ schools have shared with you through the end of 2022.  Include extracurricular activities – if you know the times and days of the week for those.
5. Plan where homework time will happen for each child. It should be well lit, comfortable and have supplies your kids will need easily within reach.  Adding a candle (fake or real depending on age) and music can get your kids excited about their designated space.  (You can “test drive” it to get some math facts practice or reading done in these last weeks of summer to help get them ready!)
6. Plan your dinner menu for the first week of school (maybe your kids get to each pick a night?), then shop for everything you will need at one time the weekend before, which saves you time and money.

Children thrive with consistency and security.  Establishing routines and systems will not prevent stressors from happening, but they may help to reduce their frequency.  God desires a peaceful home for us where we can thrive and then go out to be his best disciples.

What is your best “Back to School” tip? We want to know!  Email us at nolacatholicparenting@clarionherald.org, and we will share them with our readers!

Stacy Glynn LaMorte is a wife and mother of three children. She is a work-from-home mom who is an in-home personal trainer, aspiring author and part-time bookkeeper. She loves being with her family, their dog, traveling, exercising, reading, photography and outdoor gardening.