My daughter and I were in the car talking about the ups and downs of back-to-school when we passed the Oscar Meyer Weiner mobile. Now, I haven’t eaten bologna in years, but I still remember the song. How about you?
The moment inspired us to come up with this back-to-school jingle…
My transition has a first name, it’s S-C-A-R-Y.
My transition has a second name, it’s A-G-O-N-Y.
Oh, I dread it on late summer days.
If you ask me why I’ll say …
Cuz back-to-school makes me feel so G-R-O-U-C-H-Y!
Transitioning back to school brings up a cocktail of emotions. Stepping back into the rigid schedule after enjoying the flexibility of summer is hard on everyone, even if you’ve been doing “transitions” for years.
For your teen daughter, the upside is she gets to reconnect with her peers. But, on the other hand, anxious feelings about social pressures, new classes, homework and activities are a big part of school transition.
When the emotional load is too hard to manage, your daughter will begin looking for ways to feel better and decrease her level of stress. If you notice that she’s using words like stressed, anxious and exhausted, it’s time to address her fears.
Good news! Your daughter is recognizing and labeling her feelings. This is the perfect opportunity to help her recognize the connection between her feelings and her actions.
The patterns your daughter sets up now will affect her overall success. Start her off in the school year right with these go to tips:
Parent Back-to-School Relief Tips
- Take a moment to reflect on your own feelings about back-to-school transition. It’s easy to unintentionally project your nervous energy on your kids, and they’ll pick up on it.
- Realize that your daughter’s experience is her own. Her achievements and mistakes will allow her to grow into her own person.
- Anxiety doesn’t discriminate. Find out if your daughter needs support and remind her that it’s okay to ask for help.
Teen Back-to-School Relief Tips
Walk your daughter through these simple processes:
- Recall a time when you felt stressed and everything turned out okay.
- Listen to your mind and body. If you feel stressed and anxious, that is your body’s way of speaking to you.
- Talk to someone you trust about how you’re feeling and what you need to feel successful. There are a lot of resources to support you. (Help your daughter to name all the possible resources she has.)
The Drama Pile Up
I’ve noticed that sometimes when members of my family are feeling uncomfortable, we tend to stay busy, unwittingly engage in the drama and then let it pile up. Sound familiar?
Here’s what I know now … If you’re willing to listen to what your mind and body are telling you, you’ll learn a lot about yourself. Above all, you’ll learn that you can work through your uncomfortable emotions. And soon the school year will be humming along!
Okay, now pass your wisdom forward. How do you handle the back-to-school transition? What strategies work for you?
