There are so many transitions happening in our lives this time of year! Everyone seems to be squeezing in those last plans for a fabulous summer. Public and private school calendars dictate pace–even if you don’t have children tied to those calendars yet. Teachers are resuming their professional commitments. Everything is on a “back to school” sale. Even our own little school is saying “goodbye” to friends taking their next step, and “hello” to new students that will experience Farm School for the first time.
I am busy setting up (with lots of help) our new kinder/1st grade classroom, and I am overwhelmed by the nearly daily emails coming my way detailing dates and times my own children need to be somewhere, with money, and various items. How will we all make it (to mid-September)? What grounds us? How do some adults and children become overwhelmed by “life” and how do others remain calm and effective? Like you, this time of year I wonder how my own children will respond to new teachers, new phases of development, people with viewpoints that differ from our family’s.
This article speaks to resilience (Click Here), specifically resilience in children. Rest assured, there are grounding forces in childhood that can help one rise above whatever challenges come in a lifetime. It gave me peace yesterday, and helped me gather myself to support my own children and my students in these next weeks.
Fall back on your family’s rhythm and routine. Shine them up after a carefree summer. Let them carry you.
I may have a list of thirty things that still need done before August 27th, and three children going in three directions, but tonight, we shall have roast turkey, asparagus, and mashed potatoes around our dinner table shortly after 6. That I can do today.
~Leslie
