Do a Google search on this topic and you’re likely to come across a ton of news stories, blogs, opinions, etc. I thought I better throw my hat into the ring, so my readers would not be left out. The person quoted the most on these various sites is Samuel Gladding, who is a professor at Wake Forest University. He offers 6 tips for helping with back to school anxiety and is summarized by Bradenton.com.
The fact that these articles keep popping up on my alerts daily was funny to me, as I think I have more anxiety than my kids about them going back to school. I won’t rehash what has already been written – that is what links are for. I will share that this year is a crazy one for me, with my oldest entering college and my youngest entering kindergarten. My middle child is going into 5th grade, which basically reminds me next year will be full of stress for her. How can I, and other parents, survive our own anxiety? Don’t we need to do that before we can help our kids?
I try and keep my anxiety in check when around my kids, but talk to my co-workers and family about the way I am feeling. This helps me process things without letting it all hang out in front of the kids. I think I am more worried about the one going to college than the others – that is a huge step and removes me from pieces of her life. She still lives at home and is going to community college, which helps, but the college cannot speak to parents about anything unless the student signs a waiver, and teachers don’t even deal with parents at all. So, if my girl starts slipping and not doing her work I will have no way of knowing. There will be no one to reach out to when a plan needs to be made and no one I can follow up with to make sure the plan worked. My daughter is on her own, and unlikely to ask for help if she needs it. Considering I am paying for college this really gets my anxiety going.
I think the thing that saves me from too much anxiety over my son heading to kindergarten is his success in pre-k last year. Where I live pre-k is free for all kids and is a great place to prep for heading to school. He knows his letters and numbers and is looking forward to making friends like 5 year olds do. He is happy and although my anxiety is low I am a little sad, as this is my baby and the last time I will walk a child to kindergarten for the first time.
So for some back to school anxiety may be something that 6 tips can help with, but for others there are complications that there are no quick fixes for. I am excited for all of my kids returning to school. They drive each other crazy over the summer and each are looking forward to getting away from each other and back with kids their own age. But my 18 year is scared about heading to college, my 10 year old worries about the “5th grade tests”, and the 5 year old worries he won’t find his class. All the while mommy worries, but is happy, and is sad – such mixed feelings going on.