By Stacy Turner

I’ve always enjoyed the transition from summer to early fall and the sense of renewal as a brand-new school year begins.  The longed-for summer has been full of fun adventures.  But as the evenings become cool, I realize I’m ready for the routines and business of fall.  And my kids are ready to return to school, too — at least most of the time.

Even though I’m no longer a student with first day jitters, I can remember having them.  Each time I started at a new school, those butterflies in my stomach attacked with a vengeance.  After attending one school for kindergarten, another for first grade, and a brand new school for grade two, my tiny tummy was tied in knots.  The first day at my third new school in as many years, I ended up in the nurse’s office before lunchtime.  All day, I felt like I was going to vomit.  I didn’t want to go back for day two, but since I didn’t look sick and didn’t have a temperature, I was back on the school bus, feeling queasier the closer I got to school.  I must have looked a little green, because my teacher sent me straight to the school nurse.  

Eventually, the butterflies went away and I settled in and thrived in my new class and my new school.  Over the years, I’ve learned that by focusing on the exciting part of a new situation, my nervousness loses some of its power.  And I’ve learned that sometimes, that scary thing I spent so much time worrying about wasn’t half as bad as I had built it up to be.

My older daughter isn’t nervous about the first day of school in the way that I was.  Instead, she focuses her extra energy on organizing beforehand.  Sometimes, the distraction of cleaning out a drawer to make room for new school supplies does the trick.  Other times, she’s intent on cleaning out a closet, earning satisfaction from making things neat and orderly.  That’s the way she prepares herself for a new or different situation.

My younger daughter, however, is more like her momma.  On a few especially hard afternoons of the first few weeks of kindergarten, her kind teacher arranged for my older daughter (who had also been her student), to come from the second grade and comfort her younger sister.  Eventually, my little one settled in and thrived in her new environment.  But as she gets ready to attend a new school this year, those familiar butterflies are back in full force.  So, we’re doing our best to try to repel them. 

Over the years, I’ve learned some ways to better cope with stressful situations myself, and I’m trying to help my daughters figure out what works best for them.  Some of my go-tos include gardening, talking with friends, rewarding myself with a fancy coffee afterwards, or stress baking.  My girls turn to exercise, listening to music, cuddling the pets, and hanging out with friends. 

Together, we’ll all make sure the girls are organized and have all the supplies they need for that scary yet exciting first day of school.  And we know from experience that each of us will get through these new beginnings, learn to settle in, and thrive with these new opportunities.