It’s that time of year – “Back to School!” Woohoo! And yes, thankfully, this year (2022) most of the kids are actually going back to school. Not online school, not virtual classes, but ‘physically’ going back to school. Once again our children (or grandchildren for many of us) will finally be ‘physically’ back in their classrooms with their classmates and teachers. This return to normalcy will include so many things we and our children took for granted. Simple things like eating their lunch in the school cafeteria, enjoying recess and physical education classes together, attending school sponsored athletic contests and social events and just having social contact with their friends on a regular basis. If nothing else, this year’s ‘return to school’ more importantly marks the return of the ‘social aspect’ of our children’s learning experience which has always been equally if not more important than the ‘academic aspect’ of that experience. So many things, so much we took for granted and now – our children are back in school once again!
And yes, it will take some adjusting. The time away from one another and attempting to learn in a totally virtual environment has brought on some new challenges for both the teachers and our children. Clearly, some emotions such as anxiety, loneliness and insecurity which were not so much a part of our life before the pandemic are now high on our list of concerns when it comes to our children. Anxiety probably being at the top of that list.
So, here is a short list of simple reminders that might be worth sharing with your children as they return to school.
- START your day with prayer. God gave you this day and He loves you. Be kind to everyone you meet and do all you can to become the best version of yourself.
- Life is change. It always has been. Learn to accept it, even better, embrace it! That is how you grow and become the best version of yourself.
- Use technology to help you do the things you NEED to do. Do NOT let it become the “end all” of your life or the primary source of your entertainment!
- Strive for Excellence, NOT perfection, in the things you are most passionate about. You are not perfect and you never will be. Neither are your friends, your teachers or your parents. Excellence is attainable, perfection is not.
- END your day with prayer. Thank God for every single thing good that you experienced today! He helped you make it happen!
Oh yeah, Moms and Dads, here is a short list for you, too.
START your day in prayer WITH your children.
- Reunite your family DAILY having dinner together as a family. NO television on in the background. NO cell phones at the dinner table. Dinner as it was meant to be, a “family event” that reunites your family EVERY day.
- END your day with prayer. Thank God for all the good things you experienced in your life today including the dinner you enjoyed with your family. God makes ALL things possible!
Life is such a blessing! Do you want to head into this school year in such a way so that you and your children head out the door feeling great about the possibilities for each and every day? Then take the example of Jesus Christ and let God guide your thoughts and actions in all that you do. Let Jesus be your constant reminder of WHAT really matters.
