Enriched Family Back-to-School and Work Special Feature
Image: Caleb Oquendo on Pexels
Hi parents! I hope you enjoyed your summer. Our family had a wonderful visit with the grandparents after a long separation. The girls experienced sleep away camp for the first time & my husband and I experienced a child-free staycation💃🏻. We also went on a family road trip to Salida, CO to visit dear friends. There, we went rafting on the Arkansas River; my oldest showed off her bravery by jumping off a high rock into the cold Colorado water; we engaged in lots of creative play and silliness; visited an Aspen Pine Grove and learned about native flowers; and enjoyed delicious meals and lovely company.
And now, back-to-school time is upon us. Many of you parents may also be returning to the office for the first time since the pandemic. Given all of these new beginnings in the very specific time period of an ongoing pandemic, I created a special "Back-to-School & Office" blog post as I understand this transition may be a bit bumpy for us all. In our family, we remind each other during times of change that transition is hard, but we can do hard things. Let’s all try to give each other some grace.
I know many of us are nervous about sending our children back to school when Austin is again at COVID Stage 5. We are experiencing a very high positivity rate and our hospitals are filling up yet again. I wish our state leadership took this public health crisis far more seriously. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Luckily, local leadership is stepping into this gap. We need to take care of ourselves and each other. Our communities need us to mask up and take social distance precautions yet again.😷❤️ If you would like additional information, check out the CDC guidance for COVID-19 prevention in K-12 schools, as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendations.
A key way that our family eases transition anxiety is through preparation and organization. I hope the Enriched Family Back-to-School and Back-to-Office Checklists are helpful to your family. Not all the steps will apply, particularly if your kiddos are starting out remote, but hopefully the checklists are good templates that you can adjust to your family’s needs.
I also want to highlight a few Enriched Family blog posts from years past that will be helpful during this time of transition. Pick and choose what is relevant to you today:
Enriched Family Roundup: Alternative Schooling Options for the Fall
Enriched Family Recipe Roundups - Dinner in 30 Minutes or Less
Sending big hugs to the adults and littles. Take care of yourselves and each other. And don’t forget to mask up. 😷
💚 Esha/Enriched Family
Here are Enriched Family's August quick picks...the books, podcasts, recipes, and home hacks I am most excited about.
Book: My book club is currently reading How to Raise Kids Who Aren't Assholes: Science-Based Strategies for Better Parenting -- From Tots to Teens by Melinda Wenner Moyer, an award-winning contributing editor at Scientific American, a regular contributor to the New York Times, and a former Slate parenting columnist. This is a very informative, yet approachable read. If you are interested in what the science says about cultivating kindness, empathy, and confidence in your kids, this is the book for you!
Podcast: The Big Fib is a podcast that my girls really enjoy -- "Each week, a kid interviews two experts in a particular topic, one of which is a genuine, credentialed expert, the other a liar. Hilarious and fast-paced, the show teaches kids to ask insightful questions, weigh the evidence before them, and trust their guts."
Recipe: 🍽 I haven't made this recipe yet, but it is on the menu for this week: Sheet Pan Eggplant Parmesan, a somewhat healthier take on Eggplant Parmesan. Heads up - reviews call for less salt and breadcrumbs. I would recommend using Rao's canned marinara sauce.
Home Hack: If your kiddos are involved in regular, weekly activities, do yourself a favor and prep "go bags" for each child's activities. For example, a dance bag, sports bag, et cetera. Pre-packing their uniforms, equipment, & even a nonperishable snack will make your life so much easier.
Enriched Family: The extra set of qualified hands professional parents need. Enriched Family helps parents research camps and other educational needs for their kids, organize their households, and design greater life balance so they have more time to enjoy the life they have created. I offer a free, 30-minute initial phone consultation to all new clients to discuss matching your needs and priorities with my services. I invite you to check out my services and click the "Let's Get Started!" button below to contact me with any questions.