| Second grade student |
We live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. So, as Labor Day approaches we are celebrating completing the first week back-to-school without anybody being late to school, missing the bus, or forgetting the lunch. In a word, we are winning! Don't judge me. We aim low so that we can feel good about ourselves. I think it's genius!
Seriously, as any working mom knows, the school year brings unique challenges. I have learned that the only way to come out at the end of the year relatively unscathed is to have a plan.
Below are five tips to help you get out of the house each day with relative ease!
| #BusStopAntics |
Our plan is fairly simple. First, we recognize that the workweek requires a formula. Then, we try to stick with that formula. This year, both kids have to be to School by 8:15 AM. So, in the mornings, we have to move!
We generally apply these five principles to make our mornings go smoothly!
- We get our rest. Having well rested kids is so important. Very young children need between 9-11 hours of sleep per night. I work hard to make sure that our kids get that. It makes the mornings much easier. I have to get up before everyone else. So, I tend to go to bed when the kids do.
- We have lots of clothes to wear. This is a bit indulgent, I know. However, having plenty of clothes to wear means that we can withstand weather fluctuations, messy emergencies, and last minute mood changes.
- We have fast healthy breakfast options. When we have time, make our kids scrambled eggs and fruit and vegetable smoothies. However, other times they eat frozen waffles and fresh fruit. The kids like this breakfast and I can feel good that they have 1 or 2 servings of fruit at the beginning of the day.
- We stock up on lunch supplies. As a kid, I learned that many stressful situations are created because of poor planning. Take stock of your supplies at the beginning of the week and then re-assess as the week unfolds. If your house is like mine, it takes extra planning to compensate for people in your household who might choose to snack on your lunch supplies during the week.
- We pack the book bags the night before. Kids can be notoriously scatterbrained. So, it takes a little effort to make sure that everything is in the book bags the night before and not left on the table. That said, staying after them is worth it.
Share your back to school tips in the comments!
Other Tips to Help Working Moms Rock The School Season
5 Real Working Mom Hacks to Simplify Your Back-to-School RoutineGetting back into the swing of school is no easy feat, but these five handy hacks will help smooth the transition.
15 Apps To Help Improve Your Work-Life Balance
This post first appeared on Chaton's World: A Working Mom's Quest For Balance, please read the originial post: here
