Checking in at the Start of a New School Year

Today is the first day of August. For those of us who have school-aged children, are students ourselves, or work in the school system, August marks the beginning of a new year. The start of the back-to-school season and the end of summer break.

A time of transition…change…newness.

New schedules and routines. New teachers, classmates, classrooms, and, for some, new buildings, campuses, or dorms. New school supplies (my favorite!), new clothes and shoes, new fancy calculators and computers, new books. A new year, a new grade, new classes.

That’s a lot of ‘new’! A lot of change all at once.

Right now in our house ‘school’ is a bad word. The kids are not ready for summer to end in just two weeks. They love the freedom and playfulness that are part of summer. Now that they are teens, they especially love sleeping in and staying up late! The early start to the school day is a struggle for their natural rhythm at this age.

This will be the first August in 18 years that I will not be returning to the classroom. But my body doesn’t seem to know that yet. The teaching dreams and early internal alarm have already started. It will take time for my internal rhythms to adjust to a new way of life.

I’ve been thinking about (and feeling for) all of my teacher friends getting ready to return to work, most of them next week already. It’s the start of a new year. And such a busy, stressful time for teachers.

And I’m thinking about all the students getting ready to return and start a new year. Especially those who are transitioning into a new phase of their educational journey - the first day of preschool or kindergarten, the first year of middle school or high school, or the first year of college, like two of my nieces are experiencing.

I think we don’t often take the time to acknowledge how big of a transition time August is. We are busy trying to soak up the last days of summer and avoid thinking about the inevitable start of school until the last possible minute. I totally get it, my family is there too.

But what if we took the time to PAUSE for a minute, to stop and be present with what is in this moment.

What if we allowed ourselves to feel whatever is there, not to change it or judge it, but just to be with it and feel it. To acknowledge that we are experiencing a lot of change all at once, and extend ourselves some grace, love, and self-compassion.

What if we took the time to check in with ourselves and ask our inner self, what do you need? How can I support you through this transition? How can I care for you with loving compassion?

After all, isn’t that what we would do for a child or friend? Shouldn’t we treat ourselves the same way?

Maybe you’re experiencing some anxiety, like me, around this time of transition. Anxiety is a signal that we need to pay attention to something our body is telling us.

Perhaps you’re experiencing sadness about the end of summer or a child leaving for college for the first time. Although I’m ready for my kids to go back to school, I do feel sad that I will have less time to spend with them and less freedom in our schedule. They’re growing so fast and I want to cherish every moment with them.

You might feel regret about things you wanted to do but didn’t get to do over the summer. Or frustration that you added more things to your ‘to do’ list than you crossed off. There may be dread around the imposed schedule that school brings.

Or maybe you’re feeling rested and refreshed, ready to go. Grateful for the time you spent with family or a vacation you got to take. Happy to get the kids out of the house and get back into a routine.

Allow yourself to feel whatever comes up. None of it is good, bad, right, or wrong. They’re just feelings, and they want to tell you something.

As we enter into this new year, I’m holding space for all that you are experiencing. I hope you take the time to check in with yourself, feel the feelings, find gratitude for what is, and embrace the transition with self-compassion.

Change is hard, and you are not alone.

I would love to walk alongside you through your time of transition and help you set intentions for the new year. If you’re interested in working together, please reach out.