Back to School! Yes! And Ugh!
My experience tells me that regardless of where our children are, in terms of school or job, returning to routine is a very good and yet potentially disastrous thing. For my peeps that have kids in college, you know what I’m talking about.
If you don’t yet have kids in college, here’s a snapshot: Draw a triangle and place these three words at each angle – Study, Sleep and Social. This is the life (in it’s entirety) of a college student. But here’s the hitch, they only get to pick two. In our family’s case, naturally the thing to go by the way side is sleep. Oh well, sleep isn’t that important…unless you want to LIVE.
Now, if you’ve got a kid that is in middle school, high school, or in some cases, elementary school (scary), routine is generally welcome, but here’s the rub. The little darlins’ are often over committed; sports, music, youth group, job, volunteer work, oh and the actual school part. Pretty soon routine has morphed into a crazy, miserable hell.
So, what’s one to do? I always, always return to my roots. How much water have you had to drink today? How much sleep did you get last night? When was the last time you elevated your heart rate? Could we just go to breakfast and talk about nothing ? In an effort to thwart the latest cold, fever, hangover (I have adult children), or simply to boost their immune system, I have Elderberry Syrup. Yes, I’ve come a long way from the days when I would slip Echinacea tincture into my girls’ chocolate milk. (My dear friend and Social Media Queen Jamie makes Elderberry Syrup. This stuff is delish and will get anyone back on track. Elderberry syrup is aproven remedy for preventing and recovering from flus, colds, excessive mucus, sore throat and contains large amounts of antioxidants, potassium, beta carotene, calcium, phosphorus and vitamin C. http://jamiespantry.com ).
I was raised by a very unconventional mother. Who else lived through their mother’s arrest for protesting Rocky Flats? Or came home after school, friends in tow, to see mom in a full-on Headstand, a/k/a the King of Yoga Poses. Spectacular. My mother was eccentric and brilliant and she taught me many, many valuable life lessons. And yes, she drilled solid nutrition, exercise, sleep and communication into my thick skull.
In the words of Sir Elton John, the Circle of Life provides that I am now practicing the same skills on my daughters, sans the Headstand. The funny thing is, once they hit about 19 or so, they remark, with a prideful, puffed up chest, I’m just like my mom. Thank God.
I too, fall victim to the worry, bitching, exhausted, lack of judgment parenting pitfalls, but here’s what I know for sure and what I always go back to. Nutrition, a little movement, quality sleep and open, consistent, regular conversation (with the offender) will solve just about anything. At the very least, it reminds me that we are deeply blessed and it’s all gonna be okay.
