The back-to-school aftershock
Photo by Siora Photography on Unsplash
The other day, while I was driving home from work, I thought back to a series of different conversations I’ve been having with several friends who have kids. I realized that many parents are currently going through some kind of beginning-of-school-aftershock.
Let me explain.
So school started about two weeks ago. The first days can be quite stressful for the children - as they get used to their new class teacher, the friends in their class, and any new systems that come with moving up a grade. Parents go through parallel stresses as they feel concerned about how their children will feel in their new class with their new class teacher and new classmates and with new responsibilities.
“One would think that, once the first days are over, the stress diffuses as things calm down and routine settles in. But here’s the thing. Routine is a slow-moving creature, from the parental perspective.”
This, of course, comes after weeks of preparing for the new scholastic year: the books, the stationery, the uniforms, labeling everything… and, of course, coordinating the extracurriculars to ensure there are no clashes while trying to, somehow, find new slots for personal appointments. Oh yes, and booking leave to be able to attend all the important school events.
One would think that, once the first days are over, the stress diffuses as things calm down and routine settles in. But here’s the thing. Routine is a slow-moving creature, from the parental perspective.
As the children (hopefully) ease into their new class environment, this is where the aftershock hits the parents.
Things do not just fall into place.
As the extracurriculars trickle in, and the homework starts building up, parents are left constantly worrying they are forgetting something: Was it a box file or a flat file for catechism? Was ballet this week or next? Was it football on Mondays or was that last year’s schedule? Is the homework for tomorrow or next week?
This is a perfect example of how mummy chats work out perfectly, as they serve to clear out confusion in moments of desperation.
As we try our best to ensure that our children take the right stuff on the right day, things can feel like they will never settle. But they will. They always do. Until then… we try to hang in there and rely on setting reminders and updating calendars and diaries… in the hope that we will look at the right calendar date the night before.