Small Memories

Kids aren’t the only ones who get first-day jitters when they start school. Moms do too, especially if it’s their child’s first time going to school. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for your child’s first day of school.

I remember when my oldest son went to kindergarten. I believe it was more traumatic for me than it was for him. He was convinced that school was a great privilege that a children earned when they turned five. I was the one who unintentionally gave him that idea.

When my son was about three and a half, we had been driving through town and saw the children playing outside at one of the elementary schools. “Mama,” he said, “I want to go play with them.” Being the dutiful parent, I told him, “Honey you can’t go play on the playground yet. You have to be five to go to school.” From that moment on, when my son introduced himself, he said, “I’m three but I have to be five to go to school.” I had two years to prepare him, but I should have spent some of that time preparing myself!

What you do in the time leading up to your child’s first day is important. It can determine how well he adjusts to the new situations. You will likely talk about things he might do and see while at school. Listen carefully to your child. If he has any fears or anxiety, try to relieve the stress by reassuring him that he has what it takes to take this new step. Tell him how proud you are of all the things he can do, now that he is big.

Don’t forget about yourself in the process! You may want to plan a few things that will help you with your own “first-day jitters.” By doing things to alleviate your anxiety during this time, you will also help your child. Try a few of these suggestions to help you keep the stress and jitters to a minimum.

Be positive about the experience! If you’re relaxed and positive about your child’s going to school, he’ll be more likely to be relaxed and positive, as well. While he may sense your nervousness, you can tell him that you’re excited for him and the new adventure that he’ll be having.

Try to “keep it together” when you drop your child off at school on the first day. If you must cry, try to hold back until you’ve reached the car. Then, allow yourself to have a good one. Don’t belittle yourself about it, either. Your “baby” is starting school and will be away from you for a good part of the day. You’ve spent the previous weeks and months preparing your child for this day. You have to trust that you’ve done is right and that your preparation will get him through the day.

Keep yourself busy while you wait for your little darling to get home. Meet a friend for lunch. Watch a funny movie. Splurge by getting a facial and a pedicure. Grab a good book and read it while taking a bubble bath. Spoil yourself a little. You deserve it and you will feel more relaxed and at ease.

After the first week or so, you will have had an opportunity to get into a routine. The anxiety won’t be nearly as bad and you’ll probably start looking forward to having more time to yourself. Now may be the time when you can take up a hobby, volunteer time to your favorite charity, or spend time with an elderly relative. Your opportunities are endless.

Sending your child off to their first day of school can be traumatic, for both mother and child. However, the above tips can help to prepare you for first-day jitters and give you some ideas of how to handle them. The adventure of school is exciting, and by following these tips, it can be enjoyable rather than stressful for mom, as well.

You’ve managed to make it through the summer without sinking a lot of money into your child’s shoes. It’s now time to grit your teeth and get those school shoes. Your child has likely grown a good bit over the summer so; you may want to take special care in getting the proper shoe fit and style. Here are a few tips to help you get the right size and style for your child.

Afternoon shoe shopping – Shopping for shoes later in the day will help to assure you get a proper fit. Since feet swell during the day, your child’s foot will be at its biggest in the afternoon. This consideration is especially important since your child’s foot will be growing quickly. Afternoon shopping helps to ensure that your child will be able to wear the shoes for more than a couple of months.

Measure First, Buy Once – When your child’s feet are measured properly, you don’t have to worry about taking them back to get a larger size. Measure both of your child’s feet in the afternoon or evening. By having your child stand during the measuring, the feet are allowed to expand and register the true size. Since your child’s feet grow quickly, you may need to have them measured each time you buy new shoes.

Right Foot, Left Foot, Both Feet – Most people have one foot that is slightly larger than the other foot. Try on both shoes, rather than just one, to assure the fit is comfortable and proper. You may want to consider getting shoes that are one-half to one size larger than needed. This allows for some growth. Also, have your child walk around in front of you. Their heels should not slip out of the shoe; if they do, purchase a pair of heel pads to alleviate this problem. Toes, especially the longest toe, should be about one-half inch from the ends of the shoe.

Money, Money, Money – Shoes for children can be quite expensive. If money is an issue when choosing shoes, consider going to one of the discount stores. The shoes at stores like Kmart, Wal-Mart, and Target are great for dress shoes, or other shoes that get limited wear. For shoes your child will wear daily, you may want to invest in a pair of sturdy name brand shoes.

Everyday Shoes – Shoes for daily wear should be made of leather or sturdy canvas, rather than made of vinyl. The shoes also hold up better if they are stitched instead of glued. Making sure the everyday shoes are durable will help ensure that you don’t have to buy new shoes every few months.

Look Around – Once your child has found a pair of shoes that they like, you might want to see what else is available. Does that style of shoe also come with Velcro fasteners rather than having to be tied? While you’ll want your child to learn to tie their shoes, you might want to consider Velcro, especially if your child is a preschooler.

Specialty Shoes – One type of shoe that most people overlook until needed is the specialty shoe. Does it rain or snow where you live? Consider buying rain or winter boots while you’re shoe shopping. These boots should be purchased a size or two larger to accommodate heavier or double socks during the winter months.

There’s so much to consider when shopping for shoes, particularly when it’s time to head back to school. You have to think about size, fit, style, color, and price. Keeping these tips in mind will help your child get the shoe style and color he wants with the fit and price you want.

To jump or not to jump

After raking the leaves into a pile do you still have the urge to jump in? To jump or not to jump, that is the question! Relive the memory. Great for adults or kids, back-to-school, and any autumn event.