Back to School Blues (and Red, Yellow, Green..)
It’s that time of year where big yellow buses are driving around neighborhoods, school shopping becomes necessary and fears are co-mingled with anticipation of a fun, fresh start! Whether you have a child entering preschool or kindergarten for the first time, or sending off your child to a full day of 1st grade or college, you and your child are likely to be experiencing some anxiety.
I remember the first time I sent my oldest off to Kindergarten. All the moms thought I’d be crying, but in reality I had to take another one to preschool and still had a baby at home to care for. I didn’t have too much time to be anxious. My oldest was ready for school and I knew that but felt a little guilty about not worrying about her. Ironically the day she walked out the door to enter High School, I cried like crazy! I had the thought that my job was done and she would be seeking advice from others. Well that wasn’t true and at 27 she still needs her mom, so that title of mom never goes away!
The point is that most parents experience some unexpected emotions during this transitional period and it’s ok to acknowledge your feelings. Kids may cry as they head onto a bus, which might make the parents anxious. Parents might cry as they drop their kids off at college and their kids may be smiling from ear to ear! That’s ok too! Often we are so focused on the emotional aspects of our children entering different stages of their education that we don’t identify our own. And our emotions are likely to be picked up by the kids. It’s ok to share with them that you are nervous too, or happy to see them experience this new level of independence, or just feeling sentimental! By doing so, you are modeling that it is ok to share emotions.
If you would like to learn more about the transitional times of entering various levels of school and how to avoid some stress for both you and your child, I will be hosting a webinar next week titled Setting Sail & Launching Your Child. It is on August 21 from 7-8pm, cost is $47. To register contact me at geri@captureyourpath.com
May your path find you embracing this new school year!