Another School Year Begins
September 21st, 2011 by theresa
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During the summer months, parenting young children can be draining. The cries of “I’m bored” and “there’s nothing to do” can sound like nails on a chalkboard. But for all the trials the summer brings, the end of summer is bittersweet. All the memories, the shortening days, the realization that the kids are growing up too fast. It seems like yesterday you were in the new parenting class learning how to care for your newborn. Now it’s backpacks and jump drives for the first day of school.
We did a good job of having a schedule during the summer, but as school approaches I realized that we would have to modify our routine, yet again. My kids are getting older and I feel they should be more responsible for themselves. So we made a schedule that guides them through the morning routine.
Our first rule in the morning is that you must be ready for school before you begin playing or messing around. There is no TV or Video Games before school. If you are ready for school, including breakfast, teeth/hair brushed, lunches packed, backpacks by the door and filled with your work and after school activities bag by the laundry room, you can do whatever you wish. The problem is, something is always missing when the kids start playing.
My concern is how to be respectful and effective when I deal with them. They still need some guidance, but they are old enough to be responsible as well. At what point does my direction become nagging? When is it appropriate to encourage and when do you step back and allow them to leave their binder on the counter or their lunch on the table. I am a fan of logical consequences, but sometimes I get so wrapped up in being a good parent that I give one too many nudges. I often feel guilty that I have told the kids not to call for their lost homework or forgotten lunch money.
It’s hard to separate my feelings of inadequacy from the kids need to experience the world and the consequences it holds. One missed assignment might be the thing that drives home the need to put your homework in your backpack. School lunch of milk and fruit might just create the reminder about the lunchbox so it doesn’t have to be me. It’s such a fine line. Just one more thing to add to the balancing act that is being a mom.