A Softer Start to the School Year

Back-to-school season seemed to come faster this year. 

From slow mornings and go-with-the-flow play days to school paperwork, supply lists, shopping, and new routines - it’s a lot to hold. And then there’s the emotional shift, too. Coming out of the slower (and sometimes chaotic) rhythm of summer into structured days can feel jarring. The pressure to get everything organized, to make the transition seamless, to somehow be calm and “on top of it all.”

It’s a lot.

And for many of us, this time of year stirs up more than logistics. It can bring that quiet tug-of-war: wanting to be present for our kids while also needing space to catch our breath. Trying to keep things steady at home while balancing work and everything else that lives in our heads. Sometimes it’s not even about doing too much, it’s just feeling stretched, emotionally and mentally.

Lately, I’ve been trying to notice that stretch without making it mean I’m doing something wrong. If anything, it’s a reminder to pause and check in with myself - to see what’s asking for care.

Back-to-school isn’t just a transition for our kids. It’s a transition for us, too.

Whether we’re sending off a preschooler or a high schooler, there’s often a quiet ache that comes with these milestones - the kind that sneaks in between the rush, in the drop-off line, or in the quiet house that follows. I find myself blinking back tears sometimes, feeling a mix of pride, nostalgia, and something else I can’t quite name. And I know I’m not the only one.

So, I’ve been asking myself: what would it look like to start this season a little more gently? Not with a full plan or a detailed checklist, but with softness. With small things that help me feel like me again.

Here’s what that’s looking like for me right now:

• Letting go of the idea that the transition has to be smooth. It’s okay if we fumble.

• Letting myself feel the mix of emotions, even when they contradict each other.

• Making room in the day for one small thing that feels grounding like sitting with my coffee for five quiet minutes or just closing my eyes and breathing deeply.

• Reminding myself (often) that the messy mornings or late nights don’t mean we’re getting it wrong. It means that we’re human and we’re raising humans. This time is precious.

This year, I’m not aiming for perfect routines or perfect responses. I’m trying to stay present with my girls and come back to myself, a little at a time. And that feels like the perfect start to the school year to me.