Anyone traveling this summer witnessed how busy the roads and the airlines were over the two months. While it may be frustrating if you are in the middle of it, it is wonderful that so many families were out taking vacations, visiting family and friends, and making memories together! One of my dearest friends was on the road back-to-back all summer. She lived out of her suitcase between choir tours, college visits, and family vacations. Can you imagine how organized you would need to be to pull that off? She shared one of her packing tips that I thought was great. She rolls each daily outfit up altogether. So shirt, shorts, socks, undies, and accessories all get rolled together into one unit. That way, she just grabs that roll and heads to the bathroom without digging around in her suitcase to find the individual pieces and knows she has enough clothes, socks, and undergarments for her trip. Genius! Leave it to my teacher friend to have such a streamlined routine.
While we are getting ready to trade in packing our suitcases for packing backpacks, some of the same principles apply. A well-organized machine is key, especially on school days with kids. Nothing can throw off a day like the mad search for a missing shoe or the field trip form that needed to be signed. As we come upon a new school year, if you don’t have a well-thought-out plan for your mornings, I encourage you to check out Cherie Gough’s tips in this month’s feature Out the Door on Time: 9 Tips for a Smooth Morning Routine. Gough gives us some helpful ideas to smooth out and avoid a rough start to your day.
If you have a child with an IEP, there are some additional items you will want to get organized as you prepare your child for a new school year. Fortunately, IEP expert Amy Scott Lorton has provided a checklist in her feature, 5 Steps to a Successful School Year for Your Special Needs Child.
As if the morning school rush is not stressful enough, adding a driving teenager to the mix can throw the angst into high gear, especially as they start driving in school traffic for the first time. The morning commute is already filled with people running late, going too fast, and weaving in and out of traffic, not to mention the sudden stops of people on congested roadways. New drivers must be prepared for these conditions. As Christa Hines reinforces in her feature, Protecting Teen Drivers, it is always a good idea to have new drivers practice in various driving conditions. If you have a new driver or will have one soon, check out her other tips too!
Now that we have organized and prepared for the start of our school day, what about after school? Once the dismissal bell rings, it’s time for after-school activities. Maybe your child is an athlete and loves to play sports. Or perhaps you have a music prodigy on your hands. No matter what activities your child is interested in, we have many opportunities available in our area! Just flip over to the 2023 After School Activities Guide, and you will see a plethora of options for sports, music, art, theater, dance, and more. We hope this listing helps you find extracurricular activities your child will love.
It won’t be long before everyone is waving at each other in carline and attending field trips together, so we wish everyone a wonderful school year!
Author: Lynn Knighton
Lynn has called the Gulf area home since 2006 with her husband Brad and their 3 daughters. Following the sale of her Abrakadoodle franchise, Lynn still wanted to serve families and help them thrive. Becoming the Publisher of Greater Pensacola Parents was the perfect opportunity. Now she invests into family's lives each month by providing the area's #1 go-to resource for moms and dads.
