🏫Issue #14 - Moms share their top back-to-school tips
Everything you need to make the start of this new school year a great one from moms who've been there
Hi there,
We’re halfway through August, and depending on where you live, a new school year has either already started or is right around the corner. On my end, school starts right after Labor Day, so things have been chaotic as we try to find ways to enjoy what’s left of the Summer before our oldest starts 1st grade.
This month I let the chaos inspire me as I focused this issue on more than just backpacks and school supplies and called out to the community to collect tips and tricks from fellow moms. So keep scrolling and get ready to dive into a pool of shared wisdom from the real MVPs: moms like you and me.
To those gearing up to send your precious ones to school for the first time: Take it all in. Cherish the seemingly small moments - all of them. It might feel overwhelming, but I promise you, it will all be worth it when you see them blossom throughout the year.
P.S. Dear teachers, thank you for caring for our children and for all that you do. We see you, we appreciate you, and we love you.❤️
xx
Ingrid
P.S. Don't forget to check in on your mom friends. Just forward this email or share this link.
🛍 This month’s Amazon picks
These books will get your littles excited about starting Kindergarten: The King of Kindergarten and The Queen of Kindergarten.
Send the kids to school with a matching bracelet to remind them they are never alone.
No printer? No problem! Grab a chalkboard sign for the first day/last day of school photos.
🔥 These Scratch Art mini notes by Melissa & Doug have over 30k reviews and are on sale for less than $6 (Kids can’t read yet? Draw instead!)
Here’s what is happening in our lives at the moment
Whew, can you feel it too? We’re right in the thick of that whirlwind where the end of Summer meets a new school year, all while we peek ahead at the last stretch of 2023. It’s like being in the eye of the storm—a full-on rollercoaster of changes, decisions, and chaos. But don’t worry! Here are 10 tips to help you maintain your sanity this new school year:
School HQ: Set up a designated spot in your home for school-related items. Keep backpacks, books, and schedules in one organized place to make it easier for everyone and avoid losing things.
Car kit: Keep a secret stash in your car – think extra clothes and shoes (especially for Kindergartners who like to get messy ☺️).
Master the daily routine: The #1 tip you will hear the most is to re-establish your family’s routines ahead of time, especially the morning one.
Nightly Prep: Get a head start on busy mornings by preparing as much as possible the night before. This minimizes the rush and stress and allows for calmer mornings.
Family Inbox: Create a family email address to centralize school communications (yourfamilyname@gmail.com).
Family Calendar: Create a shared calendar to track everyone’s activities and commitments. Work, school, and family moments – put it all in there.
Emergency Contacts: Double-check your emergency contacts and remind your kids who can pick them up in an emergency.
Take it easy: Avoid overwhelming schedules, especially in the first few months of the new school year. Prioritize commitments and avoid over-committing to maintain a balance.
Celebrate Milestones: Celebrate achievements, both big and small. And make time to recognize the efforts you and your family put in daily.
Have fun: No explanation needed for this one. Make sure you make time to have fun between the chaos of work and school!
📚 Back-to-school book list by Megan Reid, fellow mom and ELA Teacher
Browse and buy through Bookshop.org and help raise money for local bookstores or through Amazon if you need them ASAP.
Back-to-school resources for littles by Katie Hurley, LCSW | PBS KIDS
ICYMI on social
We asked the community to share advice, tips, or encouragement for the back to school season and here’s what they said:
“New kids, means new parents. So give new parents some grace at the dropoff/pick up line!” — @carl0tal0u
“Show your little one where to find everything in their backpack.” — @resaroo88
“Take it one day at a time, be gentle with yourself and your littles. It’s all new to everyone.” — @t_eraburton
“Plan. Plan. Plan. The tired you will be happy for the meal prep, clothes prep, and calendar prep.” — @theramseyroberts
“Don’t assume they are excited about school. Ask ‘how are you feeling about school?’ instead.” — @parenttell
“Prep! We start reading books about the new grade a few weeks before school starts.” — @mosaicthelabel
“Talk about each tiny step that will happen the first morning to help prepare your kiddo.” — @lara_murrant
“Don’t overschedule!” — @molls.schell
👻 BONUS: 2 Anonymous (and very important) reminders:
“Don’t feel pressured to join the PTA/PTO”
“Your child does not need to be in a million activities to be successful”
Did you send your children back to school in the last two weeks? How is it going so far? Got any advice to help a fellow mom? Tap the button below to leave a comment.
Trending articles
🔥🔥🔥 Women Receive a [Figurative] Raise for Breastfeeding by Ashley Reckdenwald
🔥🔥🔥 Why The Child Care Crisis Is Actually An Economic Crisis by Amy Shoenthal | Forbes
The unexpected pitfalls of work-from-home parenthood by Anna North | Vox
How to Make a Pivot in the Latter Half of Your Career by Marlo Lyons | HBR
NEW! Introducing "mom to mom,” a new interview series featuring moms from our community, who will be sharing their best tips and advice for navigating motherhood.
Meet Leslee Owen, a mom of four and a seasoned pro with 20+ years in media, marketing, and business consulting for multi-million dollar companies. Through personalized 1:1 coaching, courses, and group sessions, Leslee paves the way for small business owners to generate revenue and discover the perfect business ideas for their target market.
WM: How do you transition from summer vacation to back-to-school season?
LO: I often remind myself that my family will never “drift” into household harmony. It takes intentionality and multiple conversations with my spouse and kids. We begin planning back-to-school routines about a month before the bell rings. Areas of focus for us are re-establishing teen phone contracts, bedtimes, school supplies, new clothes, and afternoon routines.
WM: What strategies do you use to effectively balance your family’s needs with your professional commitments during hectic times?
LO: Hands down, it’s my husband, and I’s weekly ‘alignment meeting.’ Every Sunday, we get away for two hours (typically to a local coffee shop) and re-sync for the upcoming week. We are both entrepreneurs, so this time is used to track business and household objectives. We start with wins (personal and professional), update our goal-tracking systems, sync the calendar for the next two weeks, then dive into issues. I would have never guessed this weekly rhythm would develop a new form of intimacy between us in our 16-year marriage.
WM: Are there any specific ways you’ve found effective in dividing responsibilities with your partner to ensure each person’s strengths are utilized?
LO: We ensure all the tasks are in our heads and visible to the entire family. I am a huge promoter of family tech and recently said goodbye to our paper calendar and hello to our Skylight digital command center. This takes the burden of running the home from my shoulders and distributes it across the family.
WM: Could you share some insights into how you approach seeking assistance from your support network—whether it’s family, friends, or even outsourcing tasks?
LO: Motherhood does not equal household manager. Cooking, cleaning, and laundry can be outsourced or shared with others. I define motherhood as the passing down values, traditions, love, care, and comfort to your children in the only way you can as their mother. We hired a household manager about a year ago to help us run the house. I’m no longer running on empty. My momma heart is ready to jump in and give my kids and spouse the best of me instead of what’s left over.
If you’re interested in establishing a weekly alignment meeting with your partner/family, check out the Couple’s Alignment Meeting template we use to keep us on track and knocking out issues (it includes a video walkthrough of how we use it).
Follow and connect with Leslee Owen on Instagram at @lesleeowen.
💼 Career Opportunities
Preet Sohi, CEO of employHER shared a post with over 25 opportunities across various industries.
Sami Unrau, Global Director of Social Media Engagement Ops at Nike, encouraged her connections to share career opportunities in the comment section of her latest post.
Shannon Morales, Founder and CEO of Tribaja, shared a list of 40 companies that currently have MULTIPLE remote positions open for hire!
Leaving you on a good note…
First-Ever Pill for Postpartum Depression Approved by FDA. What to Know by By Andrea Rice — Fact checked by Michelle T. Wyatt, MD | healthline 👏👏
Partner of the month: Cubbe
Cubbe is a new kind of diaper daycare bag. It’s stylish, fits everything you need, and can grow with your family. A must-have for those in the daycare phase of parenthood.
This issue was brought to by Ingrid Zapata Read, founder of Working Momkind. Got a question or suggestion? Leave a comment or get in touch.
My son went back yesterday and I asked if he was nervous “mumma, this summer I went to camp in a different country! This is just school!” So instead of feeling guilty for our haphazard childcare arrangements, we can call it confidence building :)
He likes his new rucksack - it’s got a chest strap and it seems way easier to cycle in than his old one.
Great to see this newsletter back in full swing! Both my kids will be in school in 2 weeks. Yikes and yay! :)