The emotional transition from summer to fall

The feelings that I’m experiencing at the end of August 2017 are very different from those that I experienced each August from 1992 through until 2014.  Those were the years that I had children starting back into a new year of school.

 

I have always found transitions hard.  Once I’m into the new routine I’m fine, but I don’t like the change.  Here is a photo of the year our family took the huge leap into the world of school.  This is Nathan’s first day of kindergarten at Grandview in New Hamburg in September 1992.   There wasn’t JK back then, so he was 5 1/2 years old, but he seemed so little to me……it was hard to believe that my baby was ready for school.  Jordan happily rode along in the stroller and Hayley would join our family less than a year later.

Even though I don’t have children going back to school I still find the transition hard from the more relaxed schedules of summer into the stricter routines and busier schedules of September.  Do any of you feel the same way?

The years I had children going back to school I really couldn’t fully enjoy the Labour Day long week-end because I had a sick feeling in my tummy.  I wasn’t ready……where had the summer gone?  I couldn’t believe it was time to settle back into routines.

Some of the hardest transition years were the ones where one of our children were starting into a new school.

This photo was taken in September 1997,  a particularly emotional first day of school for me.  Hayley was starting Kindergarten at Grandview.  Jordan was in Grade 3 in his first year at Dayspring Christian Academy and Nate was transitioning from Grandview to his first year at Forest Glen in Grade 6.

As much as I dreaded this ‘back to school’ time all through the years, once I was over the hump I have always felt that in many ways September is more of a “new beginning” than January.  It is a great opportunity to have a fresh start on routines and systems.

As I wrote this blog it was fun to look back and grab a few photos to share.  These are each of our 3 children in their Grade 8 graduation photos.

As our September blogs kick-off next week we are going to have lots of tips and strategies to get you and your family off to a great “new beginning” and help you Hit the Ground Running.   Whether your children are in elementary, secondary, post secondary or out of the nest completely we want to encourage you to take the opportunity to put a few new habits into place this September.  Little changes and baby steps can make all the difference!

Not only will we have lots of tips to share but we’ll also have an exciting new contest for you to enter.  Stay tuned for more information next week!

Watch for a great GIVEAWAY contest coming next week –

Hit the Ground Running for Back to School with your chance to win 2 FREE hours with Heart of the Matter!!!!