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by Kate Adamson
Are you relieved your child has gone back to school? If you are a parent like me, juggling a career and raising children, you are entering a challenging time of the year. It will be expecially tough for me because my family moved into a new school district during the summer.
I know on one hand you may be relieved that the kids are going back, which means you will have less clutter, noise and chaos around the house. But it is also a challenging time because as a parent, it is your responsibility to take an active role in your child’s education.
Is the homework getting done neatly and correctly? Do you know your child’s teachers? Do you know who sits next to them in class? Which extracurricular activities do you encourage? At the end of a long workday, with all of the hassles of your routine, remember what is most important. Here are some suggestions to help you handle back-to-school responsibilities and ease your stress.
Delegate. Family, friends and hired help, such as babysitters, can save you time and energy.
Involve the kids. My daughters make sure everything they need is prepared the night before the school day. They make their lunch sandwiches, fill their backpacks and choose the clothes they are going to wear so the morning routine goes smoothly.
Have a family meeting. Hold it with no distractions at the kitchen table. Have a copy of the agenda for everyone and encourage note taking. You present the rules, and the consequences of breaking the rules. The children can have some input, but you are in charge. Whining, talking back and disobeying will not be tolerated. Failing to do homework or procrastinating on assignments will not be tolerated. The consequences should be the removal of privileges they like, such as video games, computer time or sleepover parties.
Follow through on the rules. When one of the rules is broken, do not argument or raise your voice. Use an authoratitive tone and deliver the consequence. “Rachel, you left your clothes on the floor this morning so you will not be able to have that sleepover this weekend.” Deliver the news matter-of-factly and then leave and go about your routine. Don’t have a court session. If kids know the rules and the consequences, it will be amazing how they respond to the structure you have created.
As a mother with a disability, I do not have the energy to pick up after my daughters, and I certainly cannot expend my limited resources arguing. These four concepts have helped me greatly. Please let me know how they help you.
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2002-2004 Kate Adamson 409 N. Pacific Coast Highway PMB #415 Redondo Beach, CA 90277 1-800-641-KATE 1-800-641-5283 Toll Free (310) 546-8142 Fax kate@katesjourney.com |