Make Back-to-School Manageable
The back-to-school season is officially upon us! School supplies, curriculum prep for our homeschooling moms, and the difficult transition from a carefree summer to a stricter schedule can strain the home and the family. It does not have to be this way, however. We believe that with the right tools and mindset, this time of year can be low-stress and even enjoyable. Many of the stressors of back to school have to do with timing.
We have so many things to do daily that we constantly feel like we are playing catch up. If we change our approach to each day, however, and focus on preparation for the next day rather than catching up on the day before, we can truly change our attitudes about this busy season. Looking for practical ways to adjust your schedule to make back to school more manageable? See our list of tips below!
Practical Tips for Tackling Each School Day
Get ready for the day before your kids wake up - this can be difficult when you’re running on little sleep, but if you have time to yourself to shower, put makeup on, have a cup of coffee, or take a moment to pray quietly, you will feel so much better about the day ahead
Prepare lunches the night before. This can be a task that you delegate to your children, depending on their age. Just provide them the ingredients and supplies they need to pack their lunch and then simply supervise the process as they go.
Choose easy recipes for dinner, like the Easy Green Enchiladas below.
Keep a basket of typically forgotten items in the car so that you have backups in case you need them.
Homeschooling moms- make cleanup of school supplies, homework, your home study space a part of your daily routine with your kids. When the school day comes to an end, make it a rule that the whole family helps mom clean up before going on with their days.
Make fun/decompress time a part of you and your kids’ daily schedule. This could be right after school or when dad gets off of work. Whatever you do, whether it’s running around outside, playing a game, or having a dance party with the family, it’s so important to plan time for silliness and relaxation to break up a long day for yourself and your kids.
"To maintain a joyful family requires much from both the parents and the children. Each member of the family has to become, in a special way, the servant of the others."
- St. Pope John Paul II
Easy Green Enchiladas
This enchilada recipe is quick to whip up and an easy favorite with the whole family!
Serves 5-6
Ingredients:
1 package corn tortillas
1 lb shredded cheese (Mexican blend)
Shredded or chopped-up chicken
1 large can green enchilada sauce
Cilantro and lime for topping (optional)
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Take out a 9x13 glass baking dish. Spread a thin layer of enchilada sauce on the bottom of the dish.
Next, roll up the corn tortillas with cheese and chicken inside. Line the baking dish with the rolled-up tortillas. They should be very close together.
Once the whole dish is filled with the stuffed tortillas, pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the tortillas, covering all of them. Top the dish with lots of shredded cheese and bake for 20 minutes. Broil for 1-2 minutes at the end to brown the cheese, if desired.
Take it out of the oven and enjoy! Top with cilantro and lime, if desired.
Meet the Member: Kristin Kocan
Kristin Kocan is a member of the Board of Directors and leads a committee that has organized and held a number of Art of Living for Women events in the Chicagoland area.
Where do you and your family live? How many children do you have?
Warrenville, Illinois. Seven children (all are grown), and we have 36 grandchildren.
Did you send your children to traditional school, or did you homeschool? Why?
We did both. Homeschooling was relatively rare when our older children were school-age, but due to special circumstances, we homeschooled two sons and one of my daughters for a time. For the most part, my children attended Catholic school, although my two sons, who were homeschooled, also attended public high school for a time. Since I was a working mom (my profession is Engineering) and my husband was the primary at-home parent, we shared homeschooling when we were so engaged. We found that traditional education, either Catholic or public, was not the best match for some of our children. Homeschooling enabled us to tailor our methods to the needs of our children. I found it very liberating: I sometimes engaged special people to tutor; the tutors included former teachers and professional scientists. I regard my experience homeschooling as one of the most joy-giving experiences of my life. I currently help homeschool one of my grandchildren in math.
What was the most challenging part of the back-to-school season?
The back-to-school season is when I did the planning for the year. I finalized the texts I would use and did the lesson plans for the year. I had good guidance from a daughter of mine (mother of 9) who exclusively homeschools through high school. The most challenging part for the Catholic high school year was usually arranging transportation!
What was your favorite part of the school year?
All of the homeschooling year was enjoyable to me, but planning the break times for around Holy Days was my favorite part! With regard to Catholic and Public schooling, my favorite parts were when the kids were off.
How did you support your children in their education?
Choice of schools was the major way for conventional education. We did engage our children for specifics, especially the specifics of their religious education, which we augmented significantly.
What tips do you have for mothers trying to make the most of this time of year?
For homeschoolers, envision success as you make your lesson plans. A whole year of learning can be intimidating! But weekly chunks make it realistic and doable and make you see that success is indeed achievable. I think it’s important for parents to be happy with the choices they made for their children’s education, otherwise, the reality of the work involved will lack the joy it should have.
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