In just a few weeks, your household is going to be running like a well-oiled machine. The kids will be waking up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed after a good night’s rest, breakfast will have been prepped the night before and will only take a minute to pull together, lunches will already be made, and backpacks will be neatly packed and sitting by the door. The dinner menu for the week will be set, with some meals already cooked and frozen, waiting to be thawed. You and the children will head out the door on time, and when it comes time for pickup, you’ll be well-caffeinated and ready to cart them to their various activities before sitting down for supper. Homework will get completed, chores will be done, and the kiddos will be in bed right in time for you to put your feet up and enjoy a glass of wine and some Netflix.
Haha. Ok, maybe not. But the reality is that in a few weeks, you will have some kind of routine down. The problem is getting there after nearly three months of everyone sleeping late, going to bed late, not doing homework, not playing chauffeur, and enjoying seemingly non-stop BBQs and ice cream. Face it, you’re all craving order.
Here are a few things that might help make the transition from summer madness to school year discipline a tiny bit easier.
Daily Checklist
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/201887995768979649/
You guys probably won’t need this come October, but there’s a good chance that summer has erased from your children’s memory the necessary steps for getting up, coming home from school, and getting ready for bed at night. It would be helpful to put the checklist into use a few days before the school year starts so that there isn’t so much of a mad scramble on that first morning.
Clean Eating Breakfast Ideas
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/28006828916562856/
There is nothing worse than trying to quickly find something that’s not terrible for your kids to eat before they head to school. You want them to be filled up and energized, at least until snack time. But when you’re trying to get out the door yourself, you don’t exactly have time to whip up a gourmet meal. These clean breakfast ideas will give you some inspiration and will guarantee that what is going into your kids’ stomachs will be something you can feel good about.
Lunchbox Ideas
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/438819557433260411/
It is easy to default to the same turkey and cheese sandwich over and over again. But not only is that not the healthiest option day in and day out, your kids will also bore quickly of it. With these ideas, you can change it up and keep your kids guessing. You might even have a little fun with the process.
Homework Station
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/17381148545433351/
Oh how I wish I had something like this when I was growing up! Since I still have very young children, the whole idea of a homework station is completely foreign to me, but I think it’s a wonderful way to keep kids organized and focused on completing their assignments. Yours doesn’t have to be mobile, or even that elaborate, but this is something that your children can help you set up according to their preferences.
Hacks for Parents for Getting Back into the School Year
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/109775309644648793/
As we mentioned above, your kids aren’t the only ones who have to adjust to a new school year. You need to get yourself back in gear and ready to handle the new schedule. This very simple infographic will give you a hand with the simple things that are easily forgotten.
Mom-Osa Bar
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/274086327303445883/
Yes this is a thing, and yes you need one. That is all.
Lunchbox Jokes
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/272960427388626708/
If you want to make sure your little ones know that you’re thinking of them, there’s no better way than leaving something sweet for them to read when they open their lunch. Why not have a little fun and use jokes from time to time?
Teacher Appreciation Gift
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/178525572702010287/
Don’t forget that your children’s teachers are about to get entire classrooms full of kids. They could use a little love too, as they adjust to the new year. This gift is funny, but there is no doubt that it will be appreciated!
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