by Hannah Fligel

It is time to trade those late summer nights and leisurely mornings with bedtime routines and alarm clocks. Somehow, another summer has flown by, and fall is upon us again. It is not unusual to notice a sense of sadness or feelings of melancholy as this time comes. With the start of the school year comes early mornings, the drop-off/pick-up line, afternoons packed with extracurriculars, and evenings filled with homework. This is a busy time of year, and it is normal to feel overwhelmed!

We may be tempted as we approach this season to completely overhaul our routines or change our habits. We may feel a sense of pressure to, “start off on the right foot.” Be kind to yourself as you move into this transition time. If you want to make some changes, be realistic about what is helpful and feasible for you to do. Trying to set up systems that are not helpful and intuitive for you may only lead to feelings of frustration. Try to be present and mindful to not add more pressure to the parts of your day that are yours. Recognizing and honoring your limits is a powerful act of self-compassion. 

As we shift our daily schedules and routines, everyone in the family may find themselves feeling out-of-sorts and overly tired. Little brains are learning lots of new things every day and getting adjusted to the new stimulations around them. Try to carve out moments in your family’s schedule that are not accounted for by others to allow your kiddos to rest and process the changes in their life. If you can, try to find ways to keep some of the best parts of summer alive. Maybe you can spend some time outside getting a little extra sunshine. Or perhaps you could create an end-of-summer tradition to do together. With a new season comes new milestones of growth and the chance for new memories. Try to be mindful as these moments come along and lean into them, because before we know it, the season will be changing again.