The alarms are set, the lunches made, school supplies gathered together and the children's clothes are laid out for the first day of school. Does this describe your house the night before the first day of school? Ideally, yes---realistically no.
As working mothers, whether our workplace is in the home or at the office, we strive to provide some means of sanity to the early morning stress. Daily schedules filled with tardy bells and forgotten homework assignments cause havoc in my household. How about yours?
David encourages us when he tells us he prays in the morning and eagerly watches God's hand unfold the days events. As mothers, prayer is the sustenance of our sanity. All the preparation and attempts to help the morning run smoothly will not prevent the unpredictable delay and emotional crisis, but prayer will help mom keep it all in perspective.
This week I will be taking excerpts from "A Mother's Manual for Schooldays Survival" written by Kathy Peel and Joy Mahaffey, published by Focus on the Family.
Here are a few ways to help you prepare for the school year:
1. Pray for your children, their friends and teachers daily.
2. Set up a family filing system to keep track of important school papers and future activities. I use a different color folder for each child. My husband and I have one also to keep parent information.
3. Put a large bulletin board in your kitchen to post appointment cards, party invitations, practice and game schedules and school schedules.
4. Hang a marker board in a high-traffic area (mine is next to the refrigerator) for assigned jobs or messages. Also use the board for brain-teasers, treasure hunt clues or words of praise. I like to put up brain teasers with awards for solutions.
5. Discuss expectations and schedules. Determine homework times, chores and possible conflicts.
6. If they have a locker at school, teach them how to use a combination lock before school starts.
7. If your child rides a bike or walks, go over the different routes to and from school and locate homes of friends along the way in case there is an emergency or accident.
Hope these tips will be helpful to you and your family. Remember to PRAY!!!!!