• Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Keeper of the Home retina logo

Naturally inspired living for homemakers

  • About
  • Start Here
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Search
  • About
  • Start Here
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Homemaking
  • Family
  • Natural Living
  • Homemade & DIY
  • Natural Remedies
  • Real Food
  • Recipes
  • Join Our Community
  • Resources
  • Disclosure
  • Sitemap
  • Homemaking
  • Family
  • Natural Living
  • Homemade & DIY
  • Natural Remedies
  • Real Food
  • Recipes
You are here: Home » Blog » Family Life » 3 Tips to Start the School Year So Your Family Can Thrive
Here are some tips to start the school year so your family can thrive, battling the back-to-school chaos and stress together.

3 Tips to Start the School Year So Your Family Can Thrive

August 8, 2016     Keeper of the Home    2 Comments

At back-to-school time, I’m always torn between wanting to get back into a routine and wanting to stay in that laid back, barefoot, sun tanning groove that we had going all summer. I’m always looking for tips to start the school year, and lately, I want to make sure they’re tips that help my whole family thrive.

I didn’t get a whole lot of work done this summer, but wow! We had some pretty amazing times together. We spent oodles of time with family and friends who we don’t normally get to see. We hosted families in our home and traveled across states to visit grandparents, great-grandparents, and friends.

We made some special memories together. We learned about each other and we learned about ourselves. Thanks to this summer, we grew together as a family.

Sadly, the day has come and our kids have gone back to school. This year we have kids across the spectrum of schooling options: some are full-time in public school, some are full-time homeschooling, and some are even half-and-half.

Each of our kids have different needs for their education. I’m thankful that we have been able to be flexible and keep each one in an environment that encourages them to love learning and strive to be their best.

We’ve struggled to reach this point, and I have no illusions: this year is going to be hard.

Over the years my husband and I have learned that if we are intentional about three specific things, then our family runs more smoothly and everyone is on the same page. He calls this “winning at home.”

When our family is winning, we’re thriving, which is what makes my heart glow and the challenges something that we face with courage.

Here are some tips to start the school year so your family can thrive, battling the back-to-school chaos and stress together.

3 Tips to Start the School Year So Your Family Can Thrive

1. Get on the same page with family meetings.

Whether your kids are in public school, homeschooled, or in private school, the school year can quickly get crazy and out of control with sports activities, academic school clubs, and homework.

Be intentional about communicating with your kids and give them a safe place to voice and express their frustrations. Open communication is key to overcoming the excitement and stresses of the new schedule, new classes, new material, and new people drama (with friends, teachers, parents…).

With six kids, each with different schedules, it became nearly impossible to sit down together as a family for dinner or even game nights.

Confusion seemed to overcome us. We were no longer on the same page about anything, from bathroom time to driving schedules. Who was taking who and where were they going and what time and how do we keep track of all of this?

Family meetings have become what my husband calls the glue that holds the family together. These weekly meetings allow us to not only collaborate and coordinate all the craziness, but they help us to communicate on a deeper level.

It doesn’t hurt that my husband is CEO of Ziglar Family, or that he has a streak of parliamentary procedure that runs a mile wide. But I promise, you don’t need that to figure out a family meeting style for your family!

2. Learn to communicate on a deeper level.

Communication is essential for collaborating and coordinating. Your family needs to understand each other on a deeper level to be able to care for each other, support each other, and encourage each other in ways that bond and grow your family together.

The struggle to communicate begins when we don’t understand the communication style of the person we are talking to. In our family alone we have a wide variety of communication styles to learn.

Here are some tips to start the school year so your family can thrive, battling the back-to-school chaos and stress together.

Some of us (like me) are quiet, non-verbal, good listeners, while others are verbal, and we have a couple who are loud and aggressive. None are necessarily negative, but without understanding each other, feelings easily get hurt and frustration quickly takes over, which ultimately shuts down the communication path.

Learn, understand, and really appreciate each other’s personalities and communication styles, including love languages, and you will quickly find that communication gets easier.

3. Use a family calendar to keep it all straight.

We have a hallway white board. It might seem extreme, but it was from an old office and it has been one of the best finds for our family. We’ve divided it so that it shows three months at once, and it’s right by the door where everyone in our family goes in and out.

I just finished our first white board for the year. The months of August, September, and October are now embellished. It’s mostly after-school activities, including sports practices, games, academic clubs, driving school, and appointments with the dentist and orthodontist.

Start the School Year Right - family calendar - KOTH

It adds up fast in our house with six teenagers, and this year is going to be no exception!

Without a central place for everyone’s schedule there is sure to be mass confusion and constant questions directed at Mom and Dad.

This calendar system is a quick glance for the kids on the way in from school or on the way out the door in the morning.

Be purposeful in your parenting and start your school year so that your family can thrive!

What tips do you have to start the school year so that your family thrives?

Here are some tips to start the school year so your family can thrive, battling the back-to-school chaos and stress together.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Share this post:

Share on TwitterShare on FacebookShare on PinterestShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit

Category: Family Life, Homemaking

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Get our latest posts, right to your inbox.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

{No spam, ever.}

You May Also Like

  • Frugal Family Vacations!
  • 3 years ago...
  • It's a girl!
  • A Tour of our Family Closet (Video Blog)
    A Tour of our Family Closet (Video Blog)
  • Hair? Oh really?
  • Treasuring the little moments
Previous Post: «How to Make Natural Lip Balm (with Video) #DIYFriday 10 How to Make Natural Lip Balm (with Video) #DIYFriday
Next Post: 10 Truths Every Homemaker Needs to Embrace 10 Truths Every Homemaker Needs to Embrace 10»

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mendi Everett

    September 5, 2016 at 6:58 PM

    I really appreciated this reminder. We had started a Monday Night Huddle several years back and consistently met with our kids. Several factors have gone into this meeting moving down on our priority list. We’ll be moving it back up shortly. Do you mind if I link to this post on my blog?

    Reply
    • Ann Timm

      September 7, 2016 at 5:05 PM

      No problem Mendi! And thanks for sharing your experience, its easy to get busy and sometimes we have to change priorities. I’m glad you’re able to reinstate it!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You have to agree to the comment policy.
Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Sign Up Now

Get our latest posts, right to your inbox.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

{No spam, ever.}

Popular Posts

How to Make Your Own Natural Makeup #DIYFriday (with Video) 11

How to Make Your Own Natural Makeup (with Video)

How to Make Your Own Natural Makeup (with Video)
12 Simple Homemade Spice Mixes 9

12 Simple Homemade Spice Mixes

12 Simple Homemade Spice Mixes
Dry feet are no fun! When skin on your feet becomes dry, it often causes itchiness, cracking, and even bleeding. But, never fear, this luxurious lotion will keep your feet soft and supple all winter. The oils and butters in this DIY foot lotion are highly moisturizing and nourishing to the skin. It's designed for the feet, but can be used on dry, cracked elbows and knees.

DIY All-Natural Lotion to Cure Dry Feet

DIY All-Natural Lotion to Cure Dry Feet
10 Truths You Need to Hear When You Feel Like a Failure as a Mom 3

10 Truths You Need to Hear When You Feel Like a Failure as a Mom

10 Truths You Need to Hear When You Feel Like a Failure as a Mom
10 Questions for Expectant Moms to Ask BEFORE the Third Trimester 2

10 Questions for Expectant Moms to Ask BEFORE the Third Trimester

10 Questions for Expectant Moms to Ask BEFORE the Third Trimester
The Ultimate Guide to Homemade All-Natural Cleaning Recipes 10

The Ultimate Guide to Homemade All-Natural Cleaning Recipes

The Ultimate Guide to Homemade All-Natural Cleaning Recipes
  • Join Our Community
  • Resources
  • Disclosure
  • Sitemap

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2021 Keeper of the Home · All Rights Reserved · Privacy · Sitemap · Powered by Spears Marketing