Getting Ready for Back-to-School: A Mom’s Heart and Home
The mornings feel a little cooler. The school supply aisles are calling. Somehow, we’ve reached that bittersweet time of year again.
Back-to-school season can stir up all sorts of emotions for moms and kids alike.
Between resetting bedtimes, packing lunches, and navigating the first-day jitters, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. If you’ve ever wondered how to ease back-to-school anxiety for moms while also supporting your child’s heart, you’re not alone. In this post, we’ll share faith-filled tips for back-to-school stress. We will also provide simple morning routines that keep school drop-off calm. You’ll find practical ways to help kids feel secure as they step into the classroom. All of this is done while anchoring your day in God’s peace.
Joy and Unease at Back To School Time
I well remember those feelings from this season of my life. They were a mix of varied emotions as a mom. Mine are all raised with no more “going back to school,” at least not below 12th grade now.
But now, I feel joy for the fresh start my friends’, nieces’, and nephews’ children are stepping into. I also remember feeling a touch of sadness. This was often in my heart at the end of summer’s slower days. I suspect it is in my loved ones’ hearts and minds, too, this time of year.
If I’m honest, for me… there was also more than a little overwhelm with all the details to keep straight.
If you’re feeling the same, you’re not alone.
Juggling All the Things
As moms, we’re often the ones quietly juggling everything behind the scenes. We handle meal planning, supplies, and new routines. We also give emotional pep talks to our kids and ourselves. I remember that some years I felt more confident, and on top of it all. Other years, not so much.
An Experienced Mother Offers a Gentle Guide to Back to School Challenges
That’s why I’ve been thinking about this and how to help mothers lean into three main areas to assist in coping with this topic this year:
- Preparing their hearts: I suggest spending a few minutes each evening in late summer talking about the new year ahead. Pray together for their teachers and classmates. Read Scripture that reminds us all to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9).
- Prepping the practical stuff: From backpacks to lunchboxes, plan ahead. Make mornings smoother by laying things out the night before. You can start practicing this habit now, when there is little pressure. It doesn’t have to be Pinterest-perfect; just enough to keep the scramble at bay.
- Making space for YOU: Penciling in a little quiet time after drop-off that first week is a super great idea. One year my bestie from the 1st grade mom club and I went to a pedicure immediately after drop-off. Another year, many of us who had children in the same 3rd grade class met at IHOP. We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast. Even a cup of coffee and a prayer by myself before the children awaken helps. It resets the heart before diving into the day.
I Know There’s a Lot to Keep Track Of in this Time of Preparing
So, I put together a simple Back-to-School Prep Checklist you can download for free. It’s a gentle guide for both you and your kids. It covers everything from resetting bedtimes to easy ways to pray over the year.
You can grab your copy right here: [Download the Checklist]
As we send our kids out into the world, let’s remember that God goes with them. He knows the details we might forget and loves them even more than we do.
That truth is enough to carry us (and them) into a brand-new year with peace.
Get My Guide to Navigating Back To School with Ease
You don’t have to navigate back-to-school anxiety alone! God’s peace is bigger than the jitters. Get your free Smooth Start Guide: Back-to-School Made Simple (and Prayerful) Guide today.
Keep these gentle reminders close as you send your little ones off each morning.
Blue Willow 