Some people are going to thank I am crazy – but we planned a vacation the week before school started. Frankly – I thought I was a little crazy when I was packing swimsuits at the same time I was buying #2 pencils. Still – off we went to sunny California to salvage what was left of summer.
We had a blast! It started with where were staying. The Hyatt at Huntington Beach (www.hyatt.huntingtonbeach.com) is nothing short of amazing. The resort is beautiful. The view from our room provided a daily glimpse of paradise as it overlooked both the pool and the beach. The staff was friendly and professional and the food was incredible.
We went to Disney, California Adventure and Lego Land. All of these were great – but we collectively agreed that the highlight of our trip was spending time on the beach. I think it actually prepared me for what was in front of all of us the minute our planed landed in Dallas. I came home with many Lessons for Back to School from the Beach!
1. Build Your Castle
Now believe me – I am not the queen of organization. Still – the more that I identify “stations” in the house – the more successful everyone is. I have a homework station and a backpack station. The kids know where to drop their loot before heading to the kitchen for the after-school –snack. Building the castle means coming up with a plan that allows for school to enter the home without taking it over.
2. Teach Them to Come Out of Their Shells
School anxiety is real. Kids are afraid of not-fitting-in and that can cause an enormous amount of insecurity. By encouraging kids to be themselves, the need to conform to the popular crowd becomes less important. Also, let your kids know that school is a great way to discover new interests and explore their talents. Parents are key for this type of development. You can help shape your kids’ dreams by giving them the resources to pursue them – that can come in the form of after-school activities or at-home projects.
3. Don’t Get Buried in the Details
It is easy for the kids and the parents to get overwhelmed. Remember – your kids will be looking to you on how you manage your stress when it comes to homework, carpool, baseball practices, and ballet recitals. One way to avoid having the details of life turn into quick sand is to build in some down-time with the kids. Have a working puzzle on your dining room table or do a board-game night each week. Your family is the team and your kids are the MVP – that knowledge will get your kids through even when they bomb the math test or strike out on the field.
4. Ride the Wave
More than anything else – remember that neither you nor your kids will be perfect. There will be homework pages that will be misplaced and library books forgotten. THE BIGGEST LESSON from the Beach is that Riding the Wave rather than Controlling the Wave will make Back to School and Back to Life much more manageable!
