We cycle through routines from year to year; so for many parents, August is the Back to School season with all of it’s rituals including new clothes, new supplies, and other essentials. This year, I highly recommend accessing a new thoughts, emotions, and overall, a fresh attitude when considering the upcoming school year.
Often, I hear the following comments from clients when we approach the Back to School season: “It was such a wonderful summer, my kids loved being able to be themselves without the pressure of school …”. I also hear from a number of clients something that resembles the following: “My kids absolutely drove me crazy during summer, so I look forward to going back to the school routine”. However the ritual of Back to School plays out in your household, I do recommend taking an honest look at the underlying thoughts and emotions associated with how you feel about your child’s upcoming school experience. If you dread the notion of your kids going back to school, I recommend that you explore this further and look at the causes of this perception. If in your self-reflection, there are feelings or thoughts associated with regret, frustration, or anger; or any other negative impression, I would appreciate having the opportunity to listen to your concerns, worries, or fears related to sending your kids back to school. Let me be clear, I am not a therapist or a counselor, however, I have heard countless stories from parents over the past 18 years as an education advocate and I wholeheartedly believe there are good reasons for many parents, especially those who have children with learning disabilities, to feel concern. However, creating bridges toward success, finding new intervention strategies supporting your child, or establishing effective instructional plans via IEP or 504 Plans, is what I do throughout the school year. And following a month break from the advocacy work, I truly look forward to getting back at it and working with parents on this path. So I encourage you to take me up on this offer: In the months ahead, my schedule tends to fill up quickly due to the extensive number of fires I am asked to “put out”; however, during the August Back to School period, my phone doesn’t ring off the hook till late August, and I enjoy transitioning back into the new school year through these conversations. If you are considering accessing a fresh perspective as you prepare for the new school year, or you would like to explore possibilities which may enhance your child’s experience at school, give me a call. This initial contact is on my dime. It would be my pleasure.