The start of a school year often comes with a wide learning curve. New commutes, new expectations, new attitudes, new teachers, new schedules, new breakfast preferences, new interests…it can feel like there is so much “new” how can we find our way to a routine?
Once you are over a month into a school year it is time to REFLECT and BUILD.
Name your pain point and start there.
Reflect: Every family has them. Those times of day or activities that are a consistent struggle. Whether due to our perspective as parents or the emotional lives of our kids, pain points can derail a routine.
Build: Now is the time to dig into why this area is causing issues for you. Stay curious - is it you? Is it the time? Is it the activity? What is the goal? Often reconsidering these areas can pave the way for a better family routine.
Who’s needs come first?
Reflect: What serves your family best right now? Is it that you get to work on time? Is it decreasing stress in the house in the morning? Is it making sure the dogs get a good walk at the start of the day? Is it supporting a little one who struggles with drop-off? You know best what you need right now at this phase in your family.
Build: We’re big fans of backing into a solution as parents. Once you figure out the most pressing need to focus on you can build a routine that can have the needed impact on your family’s day-to-day. Asking “How did we get here?” and “How might we get out?” can help clarify whose needs to focus on.
Routines change and can be flexible.
Reflect: The routines you had last year, or even last month, might not serve your family anymore. Change is the name of the game in parenting. Our children are constantly growing and our families’ needs are dynamic. What routines can we throw out? Where can our kids step up and we can step back?
Build: It’s incredibly easy to miss when our kids are ready to take on more independence. We are in a fast-paced, stimulating world where it’s often easier to do things ourselves. Start small and see what your kiddo can manage. Test things out on the weekend when you might be less pressed for time. Your stellar parenting might have just created a kiddo who can do LOTS and make the routine at home all the smoother.
You’re almost there (and you’re not.)
Reflect: No one is perfectly prepared to be a parent. Anyone who says they have it down and all in order truly doesn’t. Every day is a new day in parenting.
Build: Do yourself a favor and celebrate the wins - the smooth morning, the meltdown that turned around quickly, the routine that WORKS. Give you and your kids the grace you deserve. You’re a family and, whatever it looks or feels like, that is exactly what your family needs right now.
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