We love a fresh start.

There’s something oddly hopeful about Mondays, cathartic about writing our intentions at the start of a new year, and refreshing about turning to the first page of a new notebook or planner. And don’t even get us started on seasonal cleaning. 

The start of a new school year pushes us into a rhythm that we may feel equally grateful and not ready for. Even though we may feel ready for a change of pace, that doesn’t mean we aren’t without all of the normal feelings associated with the start of a new school year—the anxiety, the worry, and the sense that nothing is quite within our control are all still there. 

And if we think we’re anxious, just think about how the kids feel. Happy? Sure, that feeling is there. But uncertainty is probably there, too. So, before we spiral into all of the “what ifs,” let’s think about what is within our control for the upcoming year:

We can start by being hopeful.

We have no idea what this year will look like. But guess what? You’re here right now reading this newsletter, so that means up to this point, you have survived your worst days. Your kids have, too. If that doesn’t add a little razzle-dazzle to your mood, we don’t know what will.

We can focus on all the things that can go right this year.

We can all make a list of the things that can go wrong in a school year. There’s bullying. There’s peer pressure. There’s academic pressure. But we can also start thinking about all the things that can be really great about the school year. Make a list of all of your hopes for the new year and put it somewhere the whole family can see.

We can establish new rhythms.

We often fall into the habit of doing what we’ve always done. But maybe this season requires something different of us. This year, we might need to establish new routines instead of fitting into our old ones. We’re different now. So, maybe the rhythm of our family needs to be different, too.

We can expect to fall apart at least once.

Meltdowns may be on the horizon... not just for the kids, but you, too. Why? Because even though this year may be better than the last, it will still be hard. There will still be challenges, heartache, misunderstandings, and confusion. And sometimes, those situations warrant some emotional releases. And that’s okay—if we expect a breakdown of some kind, then maybe we won’t beat ourselves up about it when it happens.

We may not know what lies ahead of us this school year, but let’s all believe together that there’s nothing we can’t face this school year.