Home Stretch Burnout? Remember, Reset, Refresh!
- Kaye Wilson
- Apr 8
- 3 min read
The end is near! The end of the school year, that is. Are you feeling burned out? So are your kids.
Sometimes these last couple of months of the year are the hardest for maintaining consistency in your parenting (and schooling), which can bring your kids' boundary-testing to new heights (or depths!)
It's easy to start wondering what the big deal is, anyway--would it be so bad to just keep the kids happy, minimize conflict, lower expectations, and glide into summer?
Well, the big deal is this: regardless of the circumstances, you're always, always teaching and shaping your kids. So, while I'm not necessarily an advocate of the "never let up, push 'til the end" school of thought, it's important for parents not to lose sight of the essentials.
Let's look at ways to get a second wind, without losing all the ground we've already gained!
So, with love and encouragement for the final push, join with me in remembering, resetting, and refreshing!
Remember:
Your vision: Do you remember it? Has it changed? Or maybe you never had a clear vision for your kids and family! If you don't have a clear vision, or have forgotten it, take time either to get one or remember yours. My "Parenting Goals Assessment" can help!
Order brings peace--parents bring order. All children need order; it brings freedom and security; and God has given parents the job of providing it.
Reset:
Your communication: Stop Explaining! Clarity and brevity are key; explaining is exhausting. We think that if we can just explain things, surely our kids will willingly comply. FALSE! Remember: Eye contact, say it once, use very few words, expect obedience. Click here for a free resource that will help you learn to use what I call Alpha Speech with your kids!
Your attitude: Stop trying to please them! The things you tell them to do are appropriate and good! Don't apologize! You don't need to justify your decisions to your kids!
Your commitment to not yell: If you hear yourself saying "HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU???" , you're on the verge of yelling. (See above, letter a.) You don't have to yell. Listen to yourself to make sure you aren't falling into this trap.
Your commitment to use consequences: Every action has a consequence in the real world, whether we like it or not. Without consequences, penalties for breaking rules, there could be no order. Yelling at your kids is not an appropriate penalty, but sadly it's what most of us use. Yelling is more harmful than loss of privilege, temporary isolation, or imposition of extra work. Being nagged and yelled at doesn't build character, it builds resentment. Don't use it. Here's a helpful resource: "How to Stop Yelling at Your Kids." Check it out!
Refresh!
Switch things up! It's a new season. Change up the chore routine (maybe even eliminate one or two for awhile!), switch up the toys they're playing with, (use this helpful, free guide for easy ways to do this!) Serve snacks outside, go for ice cream on Fridays, let the kids make dinner, let them do a new craft--don't make your life more difficult, but see if you can get out of your rut. Here's a link to my free "Menu for Summer Fun" that may give you some ideas!
Schedule time with friends. When I was a young mom, I became isolated. This is not healthy; you need to be with people other than your kids, to maintain your sanity. Don't neglect this!
Let them play! Skip the occasional activity, game or practice.
Forget the high-pressure teams; childhood is for being a child, not training for the olympics. That means free, unstructured, unsupervised play, and lots of it. Read The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt for more on this. (This is a link to an inexpensive copy from WalMart, for which I do not get any money, btw.)
We're in the home stretch! Don't limp through these last weeks! Instead, remember what this is all about, reset your focus and commitment, and refresh yourself and your family so you can finish the year with joy!
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