Hacks for a Successful Back-to-School from a Busy Mom of Three

Mood Matters: Mornings can be so hard on all of us. Why not start the day with a favorite song, words of affirmation, or use Alexa as an alarm that wakes them up with a fun fact or the weather? If you feel compelled to go a step further, I love to write sticky notes for my kids on the bathroom mirror or bedroom door with uplifting messages to boost their confidence and set a positive tone for the day.

Confidence-Building Outfits: I know this is easier said than done while you cringe with some of the combos they put together, but being part of helping your child feel confident by letting them choose outfits that make them feel good about themselves is such a great way to connect. I love this time together to see how they express their creativity and autonomy. I encourage their unique style but also give them suggestions. Disclaimer: If they don’t opt in to help prepare the night before, then I get to be the chief outfitter that day—no ifs, ands, or buts.

Create a Family Command Center: Set up an area at home where you can keep track of homework, an anthology of best work, and papers to sign. I use labeled baskets and have found if I have the kids put them in the coordinated spots directly, things don’t get lost, and it establishes an automated routine. This teaches them responsibility, organization, and gives them a role in their success, which helps their overall confidence. I take this one step further with a backpack station near the door where your child can keep their backpack, shoes, and outerwear. This has really cut down on time looking for misplaced items.

Lunchbox Love: I look forward to randomly slipping notes, riddles, or jokes into their lunchboxes for them to find. If you don’t have time to make them yourself, I found some little rip-out booklets of knock-knock jokes, cute sayings, and affirmations for purchase at Scrubbs Carwash and The Grateful Bean Coffee House in Chico.

Parent-Teacher Teamwork: Establish a relationship with their teacher right out the gate. Don’t wait until your child is struggling to communicate with them. This collaboration demonstrates to your child that their education is a team effort. I also make sure we practice asking for help, talk about who can help them when they are struggling with frustration, and how important gratitude is in our culture and how to demonstrate it.

Use a Shared Digital Calendar: Utilize shared online calendars to keep track of family members’ schedules, extracurricular activities, and school events. It helps everyone stay on top of their commitments. I personally love the app 'Family Wall', and I’ve been using the app 'Structured' to help me with time management reminders. It has helped me immensely! I’m one of those people who suffer from chronically late syndrome because I am overly optimistic about how much time is needed for my giant daily to-do list. I have really been improving since adding these apps to my daily routine and consistently using them.

My hope for you, as you prepare to start the school year, is that you gained a new idea to implement and make your own. I wish you confidence and a positive parenting mindset because modeling is the most important tool you have available to you. Good Luck; you got this!