Whether you are a stay-at-home mom or working mom, going back to school changes the flow of any routine you got into during the summer. Each new school year seems to be different, too. There can be new drop-off and pick-up guidelines, new start times, and new opportunities for your kids to be involved in before or after school activities. If you are a seasoned “back to school” mom or are just now in the heart of this juggling act, you have got to keep things up and running on the homefront and not lose your mind in the process.
Material required:
Pen
Paper
Calendar
Bag
Look at the upcoming month: Look at the calendar of events one month ahead of time. If you are not a big planner, try for at least two weeks in advance. This can help with setting appointments, finding a sitter, or arranging for alternate pick-ups from school. It can even help you plan for easy dinners on busy weeks.
Get help with groceries: Speaking of grocery pick-up and delivery—if you are not doing it, it is highly recommended. It’s a game-changer! Even if you have just received an order, go ahead and start adding to your cart the things that you remember, run out of, or know you will need in the next one.
Plan your menu: Menu planning is probably one of the biggest stressors during the back to school season. So, to help, you can do a quick Pinterest or YouTube check for dinner ideas as you are putting together a grocery list. Or, sometimes before bed you can pin a few things that that you would like to try.
Put together a go-bag: This one might just turn out to be your favourite back-to-school life hacks. We suggest creating a “go-bag” with everything you need for your kid’s after-school activities and keeping it in the car or by the door. If your child is playing soccer or has piano practice in the afternoon, put items like snacks, water, equipment and a change of clothes in the bag. If younger siblings are joining you, be sure to include stuff to keep them entertained too.
Pick out outfits week before: While teenagers are fine to throw on clothes in the morning without being late for school, every parent knows just how time consuming getting younger kids out of the door can be. Choose their outfits (or have them choose their outfits) for the week and fold the complete outfits into separate piles with one for each day. Make sure each outfit has everything from their shirt down to their socks. Your little one won’t feel rushed in the morning, you can avoid some tantrums and since everything they need is on-hand, they can dress themselves, which gives them a sense of accomplishment to start the day off right.
