September 3, 2025 • 23 mins
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Hey Mama!
Feeling overwhelmed by back-to-school chaos? You're not alone! In this 3rd episode of The Transition Mini Series, discover how to transition from summer freedom to school schedules without losing joy or connection with your kids.
School starting doesn't mean the fun has to end. Learn practical ways to sprinkle joy throughout the school year with simple, spontaneous moments that don't add to your already overwhelming to-do list. From surprise love notes to weeknight dessert outings, these strategies help busy Christian moms create meaningful family connections during the structured school season.
Whether you're juggling supply lists, early mornings, after-school activities, or homework battles, this episode will help you reframe the back-to-school transition as a fresh beginning filled with new opportunities for growth and joy.
Perfect for overwhelmed moms, busy families, and anyone struggling with back-to-school transition overwhelm.
Key Takeaways
- See school year as a fresh start - It's not the end of fun, it's the beginning of new growth and adventures
- Add surprise joy moments - Love notes, treats, and spontaneous park visits keep connection alive without rigid schedules
- Choose connection over perfection - Sprinkle meaningful moments into free time rather than planning elaborate activities
Explore more from the Transition Mini Series:
130 | The Hidden Struggle Moms Don't See Coming When Kids Start School
131| Did I Do Enough? Escaping The Back-To School Mom Guilt Trap
More FREE Resources:
FREE Community: Break Free From Mom Guilt
Become a Restored Mind Family Member: Sign Up Here
Email: Hello@restoredmindllc.com
Ways You Can Give Back:
Leave A Review On Apple Podcast
It's time to become to the mom you want to be. Remember, you can do hard things!
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me"- Philippians 4:13
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
School just started and yourfamily's rhythm has flipped
(00:03):
upside down between supply listand early mornings or even after
school activities.
You're wondering, how do Ihandle this chaos without losing
connection with my kids?
Today I'm sharing practical waysto ease, overwhelm and create
meaningful moments because Mama,the fun doesn't have to end just
(00:23):
because Summer did, you canstill sprinkle joy all school
year long.
Now, speaking of joy, have youjoined my free online community
yet?
It is where Christian moms arelearning how to trade mom guilt
for freedom without adding moreto their already busy schedule.
You get biblical encouragementthat are easy to read while you
(00:46):
are waiting in the school pickupline, sipping on your coffee or
enjoying your hot.
T.
You also get simple practices toconnect with your family during
busy school routines.
So there's no fancy journalsrequired or complicated systems.
Just click the link in the shownotes to join other moms who are
trading guilt for freedom.
One small step.
(01:09):
Now I personally cannot wait towelcome you inside.
So what are you waiting for?
Go ahead and click that link.
Hey Mama.
Overwhelmed by Mom Guilt.
I'm Caroline Tao, helpingChristian moms trade
perfectionism for freedom andrest.
(01:31):
Welcome to the Restored Mind,where Biblical wisdom meets
practical strategies forbecoming the mom You've always
wanted to be ready.
Let's do this.
Welcome back to the thirdepisode of the transition mini
(01:52):
series.
Each episode builds on theprevious one to help you
navigate the entire transitionjourney as we move from summer
to the back to school season andinto the holidays.
Because it's going to be herebefore we know it.
Now I have three kids allranging from the ages of six and
(02:12):
10, and my oldest is very muchlike me in a sense where when
summer ends, we absolutely hateit.
We start dragging our feet andthen we start thinking about
what's ahead of us without anyenthusiasm or even excitement.
When I was a little girl.
Summer was my favorite season,and in those days, at least for
(02:36):
me, time moved a lot slower andI really, really enjoyed not
being in school for a few shortmonths Now fast forward to the
present day and I see that samekind of energy in my son.
I mean, he definitely took afterhis mama in that aspect, the
(02:56):
griping about getting back intoa routine, the wishes of summer
lasting 365 days a year, just toavoid going back to school.
And yes, he really said that.
And the overall sadness.
Of summer coming to an end isjust well sad, because in both
(03:17):
of our minds, we thought the funwas coming to an end, and it's
back to boring old routineswhere we only look forward to
the weekends.
I mean, am I the only one with achild like that?
I am willing to bet.
Probably not.
And if you are a mom with achild who is like that, you are
more than likely going torelate.
(03:39):
But here's the thing, it was themindset that was actually
causing so much unnecessarystress for both of us.
Now, my daughters, they loveschool.
I don't know whose kids theyare, but they are so excited to
go to school just about everyday.
And my son, I can see himdragging his feet.
Anyway, one day I realizedsomething important, which is
(04:01):
that joy doesn't have to endbecause summer does.
I was putting this enormouspressure on myself to make
summer perfect, and thenmentally checking out on
creating meaningful moments onceschool started, and that's when
a light bulb hit me.
What if we could sprinklesummer, like moments throughout
(04:22):
the school year?
I started small with surpriseice cream stops after school.
On a random day, I would makehot breakfast on some mornings
before taking them to school,and then simply just taking them
to the park after homework wascompleted or just going for a
walk before or after dinner.
Now what happened surprised mebecause not only did my kids
(04:46):
start looking forward to thesesmall moments, but I also felt
the weight of mom guilt lifting.
I wasn't failing because weweren't having epic summer
adventures anymore.
We were just simply experiencingjoy in a different way.
And this shift didn't just easethe transition overwhelm and the
mental load.
(05:07):
It completely changed how weapproached the school year.
Now my son is still not excitedabout school, but at least
there's something that he canlook forward to, and we found
ways to create meaningfulmoments without the guilt
implemented.
Simple systems that preserved.
Our connection and also gaveourselves permission to embrace
(05:29):
the school year differently.
So today I want to share exactlyhow you can do this, but before
we do that, we need to do somemental work so that we can
prepare ourselves for the funstuff.
In order to ease the transitionfrom summer to back to school,
(05:49):
you have to start with reframingthe way that you see summer's
end, you want to start byreframing the end of summer as a
beginning to a new season andnot an end to something.
So yes, while summer break isending, the idea here is to
think about what growths aregoing to be taking place, what
(06:12):
new adventures are out there foryou and your family.
The transition from summer toschool, it doesn't mean that joy
ends.
It's just changing.
Remember Ecclesiastes from lastweek's episode where I shared
how Solomon reminds us thateverything has its own season.
If you missed that episode, goand take a listen to it after
(06:32):
this one because it's so good,so good.
But anyway, trust me when I saythis, the mindset that you have
about transitions directlyimpact.
Your experience of them.
When you see school as the endto fun, you create unnecessary
(06:52):
stress for yourself and for yourchildren if you are outwardly
expressing it.
Now, this is where Matthew 11,28 and 30 speaks so powerfully
Because Jesus says, come to meall who labor and are heavy
laden and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learnfrom me.
(07:13):
For I am gentle and lowly inheart, and you will find rest
for your souls.
Now what I'm seeing areinvitations.
Invitations to go to him andthen to take his yoke.
And then he says to learn fromhim and for me, these are
(07:34):
powerful actions or reallycommands.
This reminds me of what Jesussays in John 14, six, where he
says, I am the way and the truthand the life.
No one comes through the Fatherexcept through me, So come to
him because he is the way, whenwe're overwhelmed by
transitions, we don't need tofigure out the path forward on
(07:58):
our own And then take his yokeupon you because his yoke
connects us to the truth of hischaracter, which he says, gentle
and humble.
Rather than the harsh burden oftrying to manage everything
perfectly, we can take comfortin the yoke that he invites us
(08:22):
to take.
And then lastly, that thirdinvitation is to learn from him
because in his gentleness, wefind the abundant life and rest
that our souls and even our minddesperately needs during these
chaotic seasons.
when you really think about thecharacter of God and how Jesus
(08:46):
has done such a wonderful jobreflecting that.
It makes you want to go to him.
It makes you wanna rest in himand be with him because of that
gentleness, that calm andpeaceful feeling that we are all
searching for, especially inthis time of transition.
(09:10):
Transition is hard because weare not only changing our
routines, but we are also goingto be technically starting again
with something new.
And so when we exchange ournegative mindset for his
perspective, that's sees newbeginnings.
Not just endings, it changes ourentire perspective and our
(09:32):
entire experience When we weregetting ready to move across the
country last year, we were sadthat a big and new change was
happening in our life.
We knew we were going to bemoving, but we didn't know
exactly where.
And that's the surprise element.
(09:53):
If you are part of a militaryfamily, this is gonna sound very
familiar to you, but if you'renot, then.
In the military, there's thismoving cycle.
It's called PCS, and that's justbasically where they relocate
you to a different place.
Well, my husband and I knew thatwe were up for this PCS moving
(10:13):
cycle,, but we just didn't knowwhere we were going to be moving
to.
And then when we received thenews that we were going to be
moving to California, we werenot all that excited to begin
with First, because it's a very,very long drive to go from North
Carolina to California.
(10:33):
And then secondly, we were gonnabe really far away from our
families, and we were justsimply not looking forward to
this move.
But if we had stayed in thatnegative mindset, the entire
move would have felt way longerthan it really was.
And we would've missed out on somany beautiful opportunities to
(10:59):
see the magnificent beauty ofthe desert and to be present on
that road trip.
Plus we would've missed out onGod's presence in all of the big
and small moments.
And the same is true with summerending.
So to keep that excitement foryour new school year, start by
(11:20):
creating a yearly hoorah thateveryone looks forward to.
Maybe that's one final picnic onthe beach while watching the
sunset or camping out in thebackyard.
If you're a creative person, youcan always put together a memory
sharing activity.
And then what I'm about to sharewith you is something that my
(11:41):
kids truly enjoy doing, whichis.
Watching videos about themselvesfrom summer adventures, past
adventures, and even their babyvideos.
So what my husband will do isconnect his phone to the TV
through the Bluetooth, And wejust have a family watch party
where we review all the funmoments that we've captured.
(12:02):
We get to see them relive themoments.
And then they also talk aboutthe adventures itself and ideas
start coming up for the nexttime that we go on.
Another adventure, which isamazing because we're
pre-planning too, and not evenreally trying.
It's just everyone enjoying themoment because they love seeing
(12:23):
themself on the big screen.
So now that we've workedtogether to refocus our mind on
how we think about summer endingand school beginning, let's talk
about how we can begin to createpockets of joy throughout the
school year.
There are countless ways thatyou can do this, and I highly
(12:44):
encourage you to give at leastone of these a try.
Some of these might require alittle more planning, but
they're going to be so worth it.
These small but mighty surprisesand thoughtful gestures can have
just as much impact as a bigsummer vacation, And I have to
admit, sometimes it is even moreimpactful because they're
(13:09):
unexpected.
I have heard that the start ofthe school year is like a second
new year.
The excitement, maybe thenervousness or even uncertainty
of what's ahead is very similarto how we feel when we are about
to step into a new.
Calendar year.
So with that in mind, let'sthink about how we can sparkle
(13:32):
joy through the rigid schoolyear.
Because kids love to connect andwhile I'm no scientist, I'll bet
their world and mind lights upwhen they're doing something
that breaks up the monotony oftheir daily routine.
It's also a fantastic way tolead by example and to show your
kids that joy is not dependenton your circumstances.
(13:56):
It can be found.
Anywhere, and this actuallyechoes Paul and Philippians four
11 where he says, I have learnedin whatever situation I am to be
content.
Paul's contentment wasn'tpassive acceptance.
it was actively finding joy inevery circumstance.
Similarly, we're not justaccepting the school year, but
(14:18):
actively creating moments of joywithin it.
This contentment mindset freesus from comparing seasons, so
summer versus school, andinstead it empowers us to
intentionally find joy inwhatever season we're in.
So one of my favorite ways tocreate these pockets of joy is
through surprise notes.
(14:38):
I like to call them little lovenotes, where I write a message
that reminds my kids of theirpotential, what I love about
them, wishing them a great day,and always signing off with I
love use, and it's so simplebecause I just use the things
that I already have around thehouse, like colored card stock,
(14:59):
colorful, sticky notes, colorfulpens that I use for journaling.
And sometimes I'll write it on anapkin or I'll just take printer
paper and I'll rip it up.
Write a note on there so thatit's not just a big sheet of
paper, but I just try to make itas festive and as fun as
possible.
Now, after I write these littlelove notes, I'll put them in
(15:21):
their lunchboxes.
But if your kids don't take homelunches to school, you can still
do this, instead of a lunchbox,you can sneak it into their
binders or folders.
This is going to be an awesomeway to light up their day.
It lets them know that you'rethinking about them, and is
incredibly fun for them to read,especially if they've had a
(15:42):
field trip that day and you saysomething like, I hope you had a
blast on your trip.
And it's just really nice forthem to get that note, even if
it's just one or two sentenceslong.
A second favorite way to addpockets of joy in the school
year is by sneaking in a smalllittle treat that they can
either eat before or after theirschool lunches.
(16:05):
Now let's be honest.
I'm not there to monitor themand tell them that they can't
eat this piece of candy or thistreat until they finish their
lunch.
So they also get to make thatchoice for themself, which is
technically an added bonus ofjoy for them, and you know, I'm
sure they enjoy the freedom.
This is something that Ihonestly don't do so often, so
(16:29):
when it happens, I actually getraving reviews when I pick them
up after school, and it's alwaysfun.
I love hearing the excitement intheir voice.
Now, I mentioned earlier in thisepisode that some of these
activities or some of thesejoyous moments might need you to
pre-plan just a little bit.
(16:50):
So the next couple ones I'mgoing to be talking about are
going to be just that, butthey're worth it.
And don't worry, I'll guide youthrough the pre-planning phases.
But as always, feel free toadjust as needed to fit your
lifestyle and your family'sschedule and whatever their
needs are.
So the first one is going to thepark after the kids are finished
(17:13):
with homework.
This gives them time to burn offenergy, to decompress, and it
works like an appetite fordinner, which is amazing.
I've also found, which is adouble bonus for me, is that it
helps with bedtime routinebecause they're exhausted after
they've showered and brushedtheir teeth, and I have found
that they fall asleep quicker.
(17:35):
Now, this idea might be a littlescary because your mind is
probably racing as you're askingquestions like.
Well, what about dinner and thecleanup and so on and so forth.
Well, I got you mama.
Here are some tips that hashelped me made this afterschool
park visit possible.
So first, you wanna pre-planyour dinner the day before you
(17:58):
plan the weeknight park visit.
When you pre-plan your dinner,it's going to take the guesswork
out of wondering what's fordinner.
It gives you the opportunity toalso do an inventory check while
their at school.
That way you can make a quickgrocery run or just adjust
ingredients with things youalready have in your fridge.
(18:18):
And it also gives you thefreedom to be present with your
kids while you're at the park.
So you're not trying to figureout dinner, you already know
what's for dinner, and you getto play with them as well.
And it's just so much fun.
Now also, another tip I wannashare with you is to keep dinner
simple.
That has helped me tremendouslyin the past, and that could be
(18:41):
anything from leftovers to evenInstant Ramen night.
So maybe you make a bigger batchof dinner from the day prior,
and then you save a portion ofthat for.
Dinner the next night, which isthe park night that you guys are
going to, and Instant Ramen.
Those are always a good idea, atleast in my household.
(19:01):
We just, whip that up and addour own protein and there you
go.
It might not be the healthiest,but it is delicious.
Now, another fun way to createpockets of joy during the school
year is to grab dessert afterdinner on a school night.
we love doing this with our kidsbecause it gives them a little
bit of motivation to focus, tocomplete their homework and to
(19:26):
finish part of their nighttimeroutine early.
So that could be anything frommaking sure that their homework
gets put away, preparing theirbackpack for school the next
day, and then tidying up beforewe go out for ice cream.
Ice cream is our family's go-todessert, night out activity.
But that doesn't mean that youhave to do that.
Pick something that your familyenjoys and is your family's
(19:48):
favorite, and go for it.
A great way to preplan would beto think about when you are
going to be serving dinner.
Going out means it is going tobe taking time away from your
normal nightly routine.
So again, the dishes, thecleanup, kids taking a shower,
it all gets affected if you donot pre-plan.
(20:10):
You also have to think aboutwhen the shop closes, as that is
definitely going to play a rolein when you want to serve
dinner.
So I might look like you justcook dinner an hour earlier than
normal, so that way you can takethem out for dessert and make it
back home in time before it getstoo late in the evening.
(20:30):
Also, another thing to note isthat Depending on where you live
and the traffic, you wannafactor all of that in there as
well.
So mama, remember that these joycreating moments don't need to
happen every day or even on aset schedule.
And that's the beauty of theseideas of.
They are so flexible.
(20:51):
It's perfect for families whoare already juggling afterschool
activities like dance, soccer,martial arts, whatever it is,
rather than adding to your platewith these things that I've just
shared with you today.
These moments actually work bestwhen sprinkled into pockets of
extra time that just naturallyoccur, so you can mix and match
(21:15):
any of these suggestions basedon what's worked for your
family.
Some families might choose oneconsistent practice, like daily
love notes, while saving parkvisits or dessert nights for
occasional surprises or specialevents.
the goal is not perfection.
It's about connecting with yourfamily, connecting with your
(21:36):
kids throughout the school yearinstead of being burnt out and
waiting for your next big break.
All right, mama.
As you step into this back toschool season, remember that it
is so important for you toreframe the end of summer as a
beginning and not an ending.
(21:57):
Summer might be over, but thisnew season brings fresh
opportunities for growth, joy,and.
Connection.
And once you shifted yourmindset about the season, the
next step is putting thatperspective into action.
Create pockets of joy throughoutthe school year with simple,
intentional moments like lovenotes or surprise treats, or
(22:20):
weeknight dessert outings.
It doesn't have to be big orperfect to be meaningful.
I know I've said this multipletimes on the episode, but I'm
gonna keep saying it becauseit's so true.
The fun doesn't have to stopwhen summer ends.
With a fresh mindset and simplepractices, you can move from
(22:41):
summer chaos into back to schoolroutines without being weighed
down by guilt or overwhelm.
Alright, so take a deep breath.
You've got this.
And with the Lord's strength,it's time to show up as the mom
you want to be because you cando hard things.
(23:06):
Thanks for hanging out with metoday, mama.
If this episode helped you inany way, would you do me a favor
and please share it with afellow mom that could also
benefit from this episode.
Until then, I'll see you nextWednesday, right here on this
podcast.
Go in peace.
School just started and yourfamily's rhythm has flipped
(00:03):
upside down between supply listand early mornings or even after
school activities.
You're wondering, how do Ihandle this chaos without losing
connection with my kids?
Today I'm sharing practical waysto ease, overwhelm and create
meaningful moments because Mama,the fun doesn't have to end just
(00:23):
because Summer did, you canstill sprinkle joy all school
year long.
Now, speaking of joy, have youjoined my free online community
yet?
It is where Christian moms arelearning how to trade mom guilt
for freedom without adding moreto their already busy schedule.
You get biblical encouragementthat are easy to read while you
(00:46):
are waiting in the school pickupline, sipping on your coffee or
enjoying your hot.
T.
You also get simple practices toconnect with your family during
busy school routines.
So there's no fancy journalsrequired or complicated systems.
Just click the link in the shownotes to join other moms who are
trading guilt for freedom.
One small step.
(01:09):
Now I personally cannot wait towelcome you inside.
So what are you waiting for?
Go ahead and click that link.
Hey Mama.
Overwhelmed by Mom Guilt.
I'm Caroline Tao, helpingChristian moms trade
perfectionism for freedom andrest.
(01:31):
Welcome to the Restored Mind,where Biblical wisdom meets
practical strategies forbecoming the mom You've always
wanted to be ready.
Let's do this.
Welcome back to the thirdepisode of the transition mini
(01:52):
series.
Each episode builds on theprevious one to help you
navigate the entire transitionjourney as we move from summer
to the back to school season andinto the holidays.
Because it's going to be herebefore we know it.
Now I have three kids allranging from the ages of six and
(02:12):
10, and my oldest is very muchlike me in a sense where when
summer ends, we absolutely hateit.
We start dragging our feet andthen we start thinking about
what's ahead of us without anyenthusiasm or even excitement.
When I was a little girl.
Summer was my favorite season,and in those days, at least for
(02:36):
me, time moved a lot slower andI really, really enjoyed not
being in school for a few shortmonths Now fast forward to the
present day and I see that samekind of energy in my son.
I mean, he definitely took afterhis mama in that aspect, the
(02:56):
griping about getting back intoa routine, the wishes of summer
lasting 365 days a year, just toavoid going back to school.
And yes, he really said that.
And the overall sadness.
Of summer coming to an end isjust well sad, because in both
(03:17):
of our minds, we thought the funwas coming to an end, and it's
back to boring old routineswhere we only look forward to
the weekends.
I mean, am I the only one with achild like that?
I am willing to bet.
Probably not.
And if you are a mom with achild who is like that, you are
more than likely going torelate.
(03:39):
But here's the thing, it was themindset that was actually
causing so much unnecessarystress for both of us.
Now, my daughters, they loveschool.
I don't know whose kids theyare, but they are so excited to
go to school just about everyday.
And my son, I can see himdragging his feet.
Anyway, one day I realizedsomething important, which is
(04:01):
that joy doesn't have to endbecause summer does.
I was putting this enormouspressure on myself to make
summer perfect, and thenmentally checking out on
creating meaningful moments onceschool started, and that's when
a light bulb hit me.
What if we could sprinklesummer, like moments throughout
(04:22):
the school year?
I started small with surpriseice cream stops after school.
On a random day, I would makehot breakfast on some mornings
before taking them to school,and then simply just taking them
to the park after homework wascompleted or just going for a
walk before or after dinner.
Now what happened surprised mebecause not only did my kids
(04:46):
start looking forward to thesesmall moments, but I also felt
the weight of mom guilt lifting.
I wasn't failing because weweren't having epic summer
adventures anymore.
We were just simply experiencingjoy in a different way.
And this shift didn't just easethe transition overwhelm and the
mental load.
(05:07):
It completely changed how weapproached the school year.
Now my son is still not excitedabout school, but at least
there's something that he canlook forward to, and we found
ways to create meaningfulmoments without the guilt
implemented.
Simple systems that preserved.
Our connection and also gaveourselves permission to embrace
(05:29):
the school year differently.
So today I want to share exactlyhow you can do this, but before
we do that, we need to do somemental work so that we can
prepare ourselves for the funstuff.
In order to ease the transitionfrom summer to back to school,
(05:49):
you have to start with reframingthe way that you see summer's
end, you want to start byreframing the end of summer as a
beginning to a new season andnot an end to something.
So yes, while summer break isending, the idea here is to
think about what growths aregoing to be taking place, what
(06:12):
new adventures are out there foryou and your family.
The transition from summer toschool, it doesn't mean that joy
ends.
It's just changing.
Remember Ecclesiastes from lastweek's episode where I shared
how Solomon reminds us thateverything has its own season.
If you missed that episode, goand take a listen to it after
(06:32):
this one because it's so good,so good.
But anyway, trust me when I saythis, the mindset that you have
about transitions directlyimpact.
Your experience of them.
When you see school as the endto fun, you create unnecessary
(06:52):
stress for yourself and for yourchildren if you are outwardly
expressing it.
Now, this is where Matthew 11,28 and 30 speaks so powerfully
Because Jesus says, come to meall who labor and are heavy
laden and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learnfrom me.
(07:13):
For I am gentle and lowly inheart, and you will find rest
for your souls.
Now what I'm seeing areinvitations.
Invitations to go to him andthen to take his yoke.
And then he says to learn fromhim and for me, these are
(07:34):
powerful actions or reallycommands.
This reminds me of what Jesussays in John 14, six, where he
says, I am the way and the truthand the life.
No one comes through the Fatherexcept through me, So come to
him because he is the way, whenwe're overwhelmed by
transitions, we don't need tofigure out the path forward on
(07:58):
our own And then take his yokeupon you because his yoke
connects us to the truth of hischaracter, which he says, gentle
and humble.
Rather than the harsh burden oftrying to manage everything
perfectly, we can take comfortin the yoke that he invites us
(08:22):
to take.
And then lastly, that thirdinvitation is to learn from him
because in his gentleness, wefind the abundant life and rest
that our souls and even our minddesperately needs during these
chaotic seasons.
when you really think about thecharacter of God and how Jesus
(08:46):
has done such a wonderful jobreflecting that.
It makes you want to go to him.
It makes you wanna rest in himand be with him because of that
gentleness, that calm andpeaceful feeling that we are all
searching for, especially inthis time of transition.
(09:10):
Transition is hard because weare not only changing our
routines, but we are also goingto be technically starting again
with something new.
And so when we exchange ournegative mindset for his
perspective, that's sees newbeginnings.
Not just endings, it changes ourentire perspective and our
(09:32):
entire experience When we weregetting ready to move across the
country last year, we were sadthat a big and new change was
happening in our life.
We knew we were going to bemoving, but we didn't know
exactly where.
And that's the surprise element.
(09:53):
If you are part of a militaryfamily, this is gonna sound very
familiar to you, but if you'renot, then.
In the military, there's thismoving cycle.
It's called PCS, and that's justbasically where they relocate
you to a different place.
Well, my husband and I knew thatwe were up for this PCS moving
(10:13):
cycle,, but we just didn't knowwhere we were going to be moving
to.
And then when we received thenews that we were going to be
moving to California, we werenot all that excited to begin
with First, because it's a very,very long drive to go from North
Carolina to California.
(10:33):
And then secondly, we were gonnabe really far away from our
families, and we were justsimply not looking forward to
this move.
But if we had stayed in thatnegative mindset, the entire
move would have felt way longerthan it really was.
And we would've missed out on somany beautiful opportunities to
(10:59):
see the magnificent beauty ofthe desert and to be present on
that road trip.
Plus we would've missed out onGod's presence in all of the big
and small moments.
And the same is true with summerending.
So to keep that excitement foryour new school year, start by
(11:20):
creating a yearly hoorah thateveryone looks forward to.
Maybe that's one final picnic onthe beach while watching the
sunset or camping out in thebackyard.
If you're a creative person, youcan always put together a memory
sharing activity.
And then what I'm about to sharewith you is something that my
(11:41):
kids truly enjoy doing, whichis.
Watching videos about themselvesfrom summer adventures, past
adventures, and even their babyvideos.
So what my husband will do isconnect his phone to the TV
through the Bluetooth, And wejust have a family watch party
where we review all the funmoments that we've captured.
(12:02):
We get to see them relive themoments.
And then they also talk aboutthe adventures itself and ideas
start coming up for the nexttime that we go on.
Another adventure, which isamazing because we're
pre-planning too, and not evenreally trying.
It's just everyone enjoying themoment because they love seeing
(12:23):
themself on the big screen.
So now that we've workedtogether to refocus our mind on
how we think about summer endingand school beginning, let's talk
about how we can begin to createpockets of joy throughout the
school year.
There are countless ways thatyou can do this, and I highly
(12:44):
encourage you to give at leastone of these a try.
Some of these might require alittle more planning, but
they're going to be so worth it.
These small but mighty surprisesand thoughtful gestures can have
just as much impact as a bigsummer vacation, And I have to
admit, sometimes it is even moreimpactful because they're
(13:09):
unexpected.
I have heard that the start ofthe school year is like a second
new year.
The excitement, maybe thenervousness or even uncertainty
of what's ahead is very similarto how we feel when we are about
to step into a new.
Calendar year.
So with that in mind, let'sthink about how we can sparkle
(13:32):
joy through the rigid schoolyear.
Because kids love to connect andwhile I'm no scientist, I'll bet
their world and mind lights upwhen they're doing something
that breaks up the monotony oftheir daily routine.
It's also a fantastic way tolead by example and to show your
kids that joy is not dependenton your circumstances.
(13:56):
It can be found.
Anywhere, and this actuallyechoes Paul and Philippians four
11 where he says, I have learnedin whatever situation I am to be
content.
Paul's contentment wasn'tpassive acceptance.
it was actively finding joy inevery circumstance.
Similarly, we're not justaccepting the school year, but
(14:18):
actively creating moments of joywithin it.
This contentment mindset freesus from comparing seasons, so
summer versus school, andinstead it empowers us to
intentionally find joy inwhatever season we're in.
So one of my favorite ways tocreate these pockets of joy is
through surprise notes.
(14:38):
I like to call them little lovenotes, where I write a message
that reminds my kids of theirpotential, what I love about
them, wishing them a great day,and always signing off with I
love use, and it's so simplebecause I just use the things
that I already have around thehouse, like colored card stock,
(14:59):
colorful, sticky notes, colorfulpens that I use for journaling.
And sometimes I'll write it on anapkin or I'll just take printer
paper and I'll rip it up.
Write a note on there so thatit's not just a big sheet of
paper, but I just try to make itas festive and as fun as
possible.
Now, after I write these littlelove notes, I'll put them in
(15:21):
their lunchboxes.
But if your kids don't take homelunches to school, you can still
do this, instead of a lunchbox,you can sneak it into their
binders or folders.
This is going to be an awesomeway to light up their day.
It lets them know that you'rethinking about them, and is
incredibly fun for them to read,especially if they've had a
(15:42):
field trip that day and you saysomething like, I hope you had a
blast on your trip.
And it's just really nice forthem to get that note, even if
it's just one or two sentenceslong.
A second favorite way to addpockets of joy in the school
year is by sneaking in a smalllittle treat that they can
either eat before or after theirschool lunches.
(16:05):
Now let's be honest.
I'm not there to monitor themand tell them that they can't
eat this piece of candy or thistreat until they finish their
lunch.
So they also get to make thatchoice for themself, which is
technically an added bonus ofjoy for them, and you know, I'm
sure they enjoy the freedom.
This is something that Ihonestly don't do so often, so
(16:29):
when it happens, I actually getraving reviews when I pick them
up after school, and it's alwaysfun.
I love hearing the excitement intheir voice.
Now, I mentioned earlier in thisepisode that some of these
activities or some of thesejoyous moments might need you to
pre-plan just a little bit.
(16:50):
So the next couple ones I'mgoing to be talking about are
going to be just that, butthey're worth it.
And don't worry, I'll guide youthrough the pre-planning phases.
But as always, feel free toadjust as needed to fit your
lifestyle and your family'sschedule and whatever their
needs are.
So the first one is going to thepark after the kids are finished
(17:13):
with homework.
This gives them time to burn offenergy, to decompress, and it
works like an appetite fordinner, which is amazing.
I've also found, which is adouble bonus for me, is that it
helps with bedtime routinebecause they're exhausted after
they've showered and brushedtheir teeth, and I have found
that they fall asleep quicker.
(17:35):
Now, this idea might be a littlescary because your mind is
probably racing as you're askingquestions like.
Well, what about dinner and thecleanup and so on and so forth.
Well, I got you mama.
Here are some tips that hashelped me made this afterschool
park visit possible.
So first, you wanna pre-planyour dinner the day before you
(17:58):
plan the weeknight park visit.
When you pre-plan your dinner,it's going to take the guesswork
out of wondering what's fordinner.
It gives you the opportunity toalso do an inventory check while
their at school.
That way you can make a quickgrocery run or just adjust
ingredients with things youalready have in your fridge.
(18:18):
And it also gives you thefreedom to be present with your
kids while you're at the park.
So you're not trying to figureout dinner, you already know
what's for dinner, and you getto play with them as well.
And it's just so much fun.
Now also, another tip I wannashare with you is to keep dinner
simple.
That has helped me tremendouslyin the past, and that could be
(18:41):
anything from leftovers to evenInstant Ramen night.
So maybe you make a bigger batchof dinner from the day prior,
and then you save a portion ofthat for.
Dinner the next night, which isthe park night that you guys are
going to, and Instant Ramen.
Those are always a good idea, atleast in my household.
(19:01):
We just, whip that up and addour own protein and there you
go.
It might not be the healthiest,but it is delicious.
Now, another fun way to createpockets of joy during the school
year is to grab dessert afterdinner on a school night.
we love doing this with our kidsbecause it gives them a little
bit of motivation to focus, tocomplete their homework and to
(19:26):
finish part of their nighttimeroutine early.
So that could be anything frommaking sure that their homework
gets put away, preparing theirbackpack for school the next
day, and then tidying up beforewe go out for ice cream.
Ice cream is our family's go-todessert, night out activity.
But that doesn't mean that youhave to do that.
Pick something that your familyenjoys and is your family's
(19:48):
favorite, and go for it.
A great way to preplan would beto think about when you are
going to be serving dinner.
Going out means it is going tobe taking time away from your
normal nightly routine.
So again, the dishes, thecleanup, kids taking a shower,
it all gets affected if you donot pre-plan.
(20:10):
You also have to think aboutwhen the shop closes, as that is
definitely going to play a rolein when you want to serve
dinner.
So I might look like you justcook dinner an hour earlier than
normal, so that way you can takethem out for dessert and make it
back home in time before it getstoo late in the evening.
(20:30):
Also, another thing to note isthat Depending on where you live
and the traffic, you wannafactor all of that in there as
well.
So mama, remember that these joycreating moments don't need to
happen every day or even on aset schedule.
And that's the beauty of theseideas of.
They are so flexible.
(20:51):
It's perfect for families whoare already juggling afterschool
activities like dance, soccer,martial arts, whatever it is,
rather than adding to your platewith these things that I've just
shared with you today.
These moments actually work bestwhen sprinkled into pockets of
extra time that just naturallyoccur, so you can mix and match
(21:15):
any of these suggestions basedon what's worked for your
family.
Some families might choose oneconsistent practice, like daily
love notes, while saving parkvisits or dessert nights for
occasional surprises or specialevents.
the goal is not perfection.
It's about connecting with yourfamily, connecting with your
(21:36):
kids throughout the school yearinstead of being burnt out and
waiting for your next big break.
All right, mama.
As you step into this back toschool season, remember that it
is so important for you toreframe the end of summer as a
beginning and not an ending.
(21:57):
Summer might be over, but thisnew season brings fresh
opportunities for growth, joy,and.
Connection.
And once you shifted yourmindset about the season, the
next step is putting thatperspective into action.
Create pockets of joy throughoutthe school year with simple,
intentional moments like lovenotes or surprise treats, or
(22:20):
weeknight dessert outings.
It doesn't have to be big orperfect to be meaningful.
I know I've said this multipletimes on the episode, but I'm
gonna keep saying it becauseit's so true.
The fun doesn't have to stopwhen summer ends.
With a fresh mindset and simplepractices, you can move from
(22:41):
summer chaos into back to schoolroutines without being weighed
down by guilt or overwhelm.
Alright, so take a deep breath.
You've got this.
And with the Lord's strength,it's time to show up as the mom
you want to be because you cando hard things.
(23:06):
Thanks for hanging out with metoday, mama.
If this episode helped you inany way, would you do me a favor
and please share it with afellow mom that could also
benefit from this episode.
Until then, I'll see you nextWednesday, right here on this
podcast.
Go in peace.
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