Keri On...Parents, Happy Routines Await You

Remember the last day of school? The kids sprinted out the front doors, we headed to parks and beaches, got ice cream and let the kids stay up late because there was no wehre to be the next day! The feeling of being footloose and fancy free was evreything on those first summer nights. That feels like a lifetime ago. As another glorious summer comes to a close I think back on it as a beautiful choatoic symphathy of ever changning beats. As relaxing as it's suppposed to feel not havaing that set schedule, the lack of routine starts to rear its ugly head as stress and panic, as we feel less grounded by the lack of routines and overwhelmed plugging in our fall scheduesl into our calendars. Here are a feew reminders and pointers to help ease the transition from summer into schoool....

• Be truly present in the final moments of summer bliss...let the warm breeze serve as a reminder of grattitude for the extra time spent with your frineds and family.

• Set a date, one week prior to the first day of school, when you will move bedtime up to reasonable hour and begin enforcing a more calm bedtime routine of brushing their teeth and bedtime stories.

• Create a fall schedule for the family and put it in a place where everyone can see it. Casually introuduce their scheduels and expecatations ahead of school starting so they aren't overwhelmed by it, but have an idea of what's coming.

• Set goals for the upcoming school year and brainstorm ways to acheive those goals. This isn't just about getting good grades....think beyond the books to things like staying organized, turning assignments in on time, being kind to others in their class.
  

Families that have established good, predictable routines tend to be happier, with both parents and children being better adjusted.