We’re at the half way point of the first nine weeks. Fall sports have started and teachers have laid the ground rules for the classroom routine. Us as parents, are trying to keep the calendars updated, pick-up arrangements straight, and remember if we took our vitamins before we got the kids to school today.
Autopilot kicks in and we feel like there is just enough time. We’d happily accept a few more hours in the day to help us get by. While autopilot is handy, it can sometimes pose a threat. We go go go, until we lose track of what we forget.
If our eyes are trained for a check point, we can catch ourselves before we’re too far ahead. The half way point through the nine weeks is a steady place to pause and assess.
I talked with my daughter through what she needed from me to help her succeed. She told me that she was slipping on her homework now that we have extracurricular three nights a week. There was drama among her friends that she wanted to share, and a series of events that led to her needing extra care.
After reflecting on our week, I’d thought of these three things. My hope is that they will help you just as they helped me.
Work Together As A Team
When grades start to dip, it is typically because our children aren’t turning in all of their assignments. The older they get, the less we may feel the need to interject. My daughter is in the middle between kid and teen. So dealing with her assignments is like a game of hide and seek. Sometimes they are hidden from her, sometimes from me. Sometimes I don’t know she has an assignment due until that morning.
Can you imagine being the teacher of 20 something children like our own? I’ve subbed classes for a few of them and I have no idea how they do this job year around. My encouragement is to pause with your child and ask where they are struggling. It may be as simple as extra help on their homework, or downloading audiobooks if they are behind on reading.
My goal is for my child to feel supported throughout her school journey. I was not always a straight A student, though I admire my daughters goals to be. It takes effort, studying that dips into dinner time, and overcoming the math homework that makes me whine.
Listen to the Tea
The next takeaway I gained from the week was active listening. My daughter is a chatter box just like me. I’ll often multitask while she is jabbering. This week I noticed she had more to say. Drama that was coming up within her friend group and thoughts swirling that were ruining her day. Instead of doing the dishes, or making the next meal, we sat on the couch together and I gave her both of my ears.
We talked through the big things and laughed about the rest. For the first time in a while, she rested her head on my chest. The dishes can wait, and the meal will get made. It is important to give our children our undivided attention, especially when their feelings are affecting their day.
Show Up for Each Others Kids
This is a big one. One that I can’t take the credit for. Being a single parent, I lean into my parent network a little bit more. The circle is small and the love goes deep. These are the kinds of friends you’ll always want to keep. They are the parents that you can trust to pick up your child, or host a play date. The one who will take her to the dance if the other parent is working late.
When my advice is overused, these are the friends you’ll let your children listen to. “It takes a tribe” you’ll hear people say. I am those people, and I lean into my tribe of parent friends every day. We’ll sit together on the sidelines, walk the park during practice, or send each other meme’s in our mom group message.
These takeaways are simple, yet easy to forget. Take it from me and don’t let yourself get stuck on auto pilot. This season of school years are only here for a moment. Savor the challenge and don’t forget to love your child through it.
Makenna Curtis
Family, Faith, & Entertainment
Local Pulse Pensacola
