Written by Candace Inge

As your kids head back to school and you are left home, whether still nursing or not, you may find yourself or your kids fighting the back to school blues. While most parents are eager for their kids to get back into a routine after a summer home, it can also seem a bit overwhelming. Here are some ways to help prepare for school and get through those first few weeks, or even the entire school year. 

1. Buy school supplies. While this can be an expensive and annoying task, it is necessary. Don’t forget to let your kids have a little bit of a say in what they will be carrying around all year whether that is picking out a new lunch box, or letting them get the folder with a cat riding in a taco spaceship on it. After all, you were young once too. 
2. Be positive. If your child is complaining constantly about going back to school, remind them of what they like about it. Don’t forget to mention those friends they may not have seen over the summer!  Ask them what they are looking forward to the most so they remember that school is also pretty fun at times. Who doesn’t love recess and art class, right?
3. End the summer with something fun. This could be a cookout, a sleepover, or family movie night. It doesn’t have to be over the top, just a little something to reward yourself for a summer with kids at home and something to let them have a bit of fun. 
4. Back to school clothes aren’t just for kids. Let’s face it, there are parent teacher meetings, carpool lines, and bake sales in your future so treat yourself to a nice outfit or two while you are shopping for the kids. Looking great often helps you feel great. You don’t need to break the bank either. Go thrift shopping and find something fantastic secondhand. No one has to know where you got your outfit from. 
5. Eat happy, be happy. Plan some special breakfasts for you and the kids to look forward to. It may be hard to pull off making french toast, bacon and eggs on a weekday but it can be a way to reward yourself and the kids for a good week at school if you make that part of your weekend routine. 
6. Write notes. This is a great way to remind your kids that you’re proud of them just by slipping a quick note in their lunch box or coat pocket.
7. Set goals for yourself. What do you want to accomplish this school year? Have your kids set some goals too and encourage them to stick to them. Your goals may be to get more involved with your kids’ school activities while, theirs may be to get all A’s or win the science fair, nothing is impossible. 
8. Keep the summer fun going by planning evening and weekend activities. Fall is coming which means hayrides and pumpkin patches. In the evenings, plan a trip to the library and then read those books together with your kids that they have picked out.

If you are staying home for the first time, you may feel the need to fill your time but don’t forget about yourself. Take the time to go to the gym and catch up with adult friends because good self care means you can take better care of your family. It is great to clean, meal prep, breastfeed/pump for the little one you may still have at home, go back to work, and so much more, but you are important too. Happy School Year!