Here are a few tips for how to keep your patience as you face all of the changes coming your way.

First, what is patience? For most, patience is the ability to remain calm in a stressful situation. Rather than yelling or cursing, patience allows you to respond appropriately and effectively to the situation. 

For parents that like to keep an orderly household, the return to school will feel overwhelming at first because the routine you’ve established over the last several months is now very different. But, rather than feeling overwhelmed, try to establish a new routine that fits your family. The new routine will also help to settle your child. Your child needs to feel the security of a routine. They should know what you expect them to do when they get home from school. Make sure they have some time outside for exercise and fresh air. Establish a regular routine before bed, and make sure your child (and yourself) gets to bed around the same time each night. 

Returning to school can be very stressful for your child. Even if they are excited about the possibility of being with their friends, they no longer have the comfort of being at home with you. They no longer have free access to their bedroom, stuff, or anything else around the house. Keep in mind that your child can sense your stress, so it is important to keep it in check while everything abruptly changes for the entire family. 

Additionally, your child may experience stress from not only the change in routine but academically as well. Your child may find that they are struggling with specific subjects such as math, reading and writing, or science. Sitting in class with so many distractions may take its toll on your child’s learning. Trying to balance the return of a 'social life' and keeping their grades up might also provide a challenge for students. You don’t want them to fall too far behind and continue down a path of stress and anxiety. If you don’t have time, patience, or the knowledge to help, find a tutor that can take some of the stress away (that’s where we can help 🙂). Your child will receive one-on-one attention, and you can rest assured that they will no longer fall further behind in school. 

As you try to practice patience, keep in mind your own triggers. With the change in the daily routine, you will more than likely be tired. When people are tired, they are usually a little grumpier and their fuse is short. With the understanding that you are tired, also know that your child is tired. Everyone will probably overreact to silly occurrences, yet as the parent, you need to recognize the source. 

Try to combat the tiredness by getting everyone, including you, to bed early. If you allow yourself to have 7 or 8 hours of sleep, you will soon feel refreshed, and the routine will feel easy. Also, get outside for some fresh air and exercise. This will be much easier too as the weather continues to get better! These simple strategies can help you stay calm even if your child is throwing a tantrum about cleaning their room or doing their homework. 

If you do overreact, it’s okay. Once you’ve calmed down, give yourself some time to reflect. Then, have a discussion with your child and problem-solve his choices or apologize if you went too far. Children appreciate honesty from their parents and a simple apology can go a long way in terms of establishing a strong relationship with your child.

If after a few weeks, you still feel overwhelmed, ask other parents how they’re doing with the change in routine. They may be able to provide some of their own tips, or they may also need someone to talk to about the added stress. 

Remember, everyone needs self-care. But, often it is the parent who neglects his or her own needs. This typically leads to the parents taking out frustration on their loved ones, which is something we want to avoid. Once your family’s routine has been established and your child is regularly attending school, take some time to do something you love. It may only be for an hour or two but allow yourself some time to reward yourself for getting to this point. This will make a tremendous difference in your ability to practice patience with your child!