News from Victoria

7 Tips for a Smooth Transition into the School Year

Quotes for the Month

Quick Links

Register Now for the August 28th
Fuel Free Seminar - Marketing 101 for the Small Business Owner (Click here for details)

Top

I have so many exciting things coming up I couldn't wait to tell you, so I'm actually getting my e-zine out earlier than usual! First, I wanted you to kow that the topic for my Augutst 28th "fuel-free" seminar (conducted by phone) is Marketing 101 for Small Business Owners. CLICK HERE to get registered and reserve your spot!

Next, I'm in need of your help! I'm thrilled to have Elizabeth Handlin of Ultimate Resume's coming to share her expertise on my September 25th fuel-free call. Liz has a couple topics she's offered and I'm not sure which one to pick. Please help me choose by clicking on the VOTE icon in the right column and pick which of the 3 topics you'd like Liz to cover by 8/15. Once the votes are in I'll let you know the topic!

Also, I'm finalizing the creation of a brand-new program I'm launching with friend and fellow coach Tammy Cook of Renaissance Minds later this month! I'll be sending more details soon.

Lastly, my July e-zine generated quite a lot of "dialogue" from many readers. I'm so touched by the number of people who responded after reading the article, "Does Your Elevator Take People Up?". I'm glad the topic resonated with so many of you. It was suggested that I should have included a photo of my Great Grandmother in the article. Well, I had meant to do so but forgot in my haste. I've updated the archive copy of my July e-zine and added a photo from Great Grandma's 97th birthday celebration if you want to see it.

Also, several of you noticed, and complimented me on, my new photo. Thank You! (I couldn't be more thrilled with it myself!) Special thanks to my friend Alison Vincent at Two Rings Productions, L.L.C. for making me look great on film! Our photo shoot was fun and Alison offered several different posing ideas. This outdoor shot was "the one". You'll also find a special offer, specifically for my subscribers, from Alison on my Preferred Partners page.

For those of you who Moms on my list, August is a bitter sweet month. Sad to see the kids go back to school...AND glad to see them go back to school. LOL! This month's article has a few tips to help make the transition smoother.

Cheers!

"The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand." ~ Vince Lombardi

"Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it." ~ Michael Jordon

Top

7 Tips for a Smooth Transition into the School Year

By Victoria Cook

As we head into August, the reality of summer ending and the new school year starting is upon us. While I was ready for the summer break in June, now that my children have been home for the summer and we’ve had some great fun, I’m ready for them to head back! Here are 7 tips to help busy working parents make a smooth transition back into the school year:

1. Set clear, age appropriate ground rules and expectations - It's important for kids to have a clear understanding of what's expected regarding the morning routine, homework, and scheduling. Perhaps your child is getting old enough for an alarm clock and can take on the responsibility of getting up on their own and beginning their morning routine. Make it clear when and where is best for them to complete their homework. Talk about how many extracurricular activities and clubs can be managed per season or semester. Have these discussions, and negotiations like we sometimes have at my house, BEFORE school begins to head off disagreements and disappointments.

2. Organization is a must - Keeping all essential information in one place makes planning and keeping tabs on all the balls in the air infinitely easier. It can be as simple as a paper wall calendar (I personally use the Moms Plan-It Family Calendar so everyone can see at a glance what’s happening each day) or an electronic version like Outlook or a Palm Pilot. The key is to have all the schedules in one place. Go to your child’s school website and print off a copy of the 2008-2009 school schedule and add the school holidays, early release, and vacation days to the calendar now. Add sports schedules and club activities as they become known. Also post important phone numbers for school absentee, coaches, teachers, and leaders of any extracurricular activities for easy access.

3. Reset their biological clock - During the summer months it’s not unusual for parents to permit their children to stay up and sleep in later than usual. This can end up altering their internal biological clock and make the shock of switching back to the school sleeping routine of “early to bed, early to rise” more challenging. Create a smoother transition by getting the kids back into a good sleeping routine a couple weeks prior to the start of the school year. This will give their biological clocks time to adjust and prepare them for the school schedule.

4. Go through the closet - Set aside some time to go through your children’s closet and dresser together to assess what still fits and make a give-away bag of the items that don’t. Along the way, make a list of what items will be needed for the upcoming school year. This way you’ll be armed and ready when the summer back-to-school sales start.

5. Minimize morning headaches - Just about every working parent with whom I’ve worked has said mornings are the toughest, most hectic time of his or her day. The challenge of getting yourself and kids ready and out the door can be easier with a little pre-planning and delegation. Talk with your children now about the morning routine and what tasks they will need to do. The night before, engage your children in preparing for the next day. Things like having them put their backpack and shoes near the front door, selecting what they will wear, making their own lunch, or deciding in advance what they’d like for breakfast the next morning can help make things less hectic and give them a sense of responsibility and independence. If you’re also the parent of a toddler, take some time to pre-pack what you can in the diaper bag, ensure bottles or sippy cups are clean, and select clothes for your baby to wear the next day.

6. Setup a study space for success - Determine where your child’s study space will be and set it up for success. We have a large basket filled with extra loose leaf paper, pencils, colored pencils, crayons, markers, a dictionary, calculator, a ruler, and extra erasers. If you have a tween or teen, it may be a good idea to also stock up on poster board for those inevitable school projects due the next day!

7. Make time for YOU and your spouse - Make time in the busy family schedule for YOU and time just for you and your spouse. It’s important to replenish your own energy in order to have enough for taking care of everyone else. Schedule in a date night or two each month to reconnect with your sweetie and nurture your marriage. Research has shown that when parents have a healthy marriage their children feel more secure.

Even with your very best effort there will be times when the schedule doesn’t go as planned, the alarm doesn’t go off, or something gets forgotten. Remember, you’re NOT perfect, and let go of any feelings of guilt. Apologize, give a hug, and move on. Take what you’ve learned and incorporate that lesson into your plans for the next time.

Top

Quick Links

Events

2008 Schedule