At the end of the summer most parents are exhausted. For stay-at-home parents, school provides a break or a daily distraction.  For parents that work outside of the home, there is peace of mind in knowing that the children are being cared for in a learning environment.  Now that school is starting up again, it is time to get back into the school year groove.

Here are some suggestions for getting back into the swing of the new school year.

• Get Back to a Routine.  Beginning with your wake up time, create a routine for yourself and your family that will provide guidance to more independent children and comfort to the young ones.
• Take Advantage of  “You Time”.  Schedule some time to go out and treat yourself to something nice, or just stay in and watch a movie while you soak your feet. Make a little time while the kids are learning to kick back, relax, and pamper yourself a little.
• Pace Yourself.  You may be tempted to plunge yourself into making up for lost productivity in the summertime.  Try not to overwork yourself and wear out by cramming it all into one day. Space it out the best you can. Write out a list of what needs to be done and designate days to do it.
• Be Grateful. With the craziness of work and school, it can be hard to remember that these years are short. Children are only under our care for a short number of years.  Take some time at the end of the day or on the weekends to have a game or movie night with the family. It will help you remember why all the chaos is so very worth it.

What helps you get in the mindset of the new school year?  What tips do you have for staying sane in September?