Getting Mom Ready for School

Have your boys already gone back to school?
Or are you planning to send them off soon?

Either way, Mom can always benefit from a few Back-to-School tips.

Whether your boys have been in school a week or not, it's time for a calendar update. If you don't have a calendar big enough to hold family notations, invest in one. Then collect as many dates as you can from the boys' schools and get them firmly on the family calendar: parent meetings, days off, parent conference days, etc.

Once the boys get into the year, put project dates on the calendar. Don't forget to add athletic practices, games and meets, recitals, and birthdays.

Even though the calendar will fill up pretty quickly with school events, stake out some special family times. If you don't plan family time, it won't happen, so make an effort to find times for family fun and put those on the calendar too.

One more Back-to-School Tip for Mom: do all you can to eliminate Manic Mornings.

Yes, that will probably rising a bit earlier than the rest of the family. Get the coffeemaker all set the night before so all you have to do is push a button. Spend a little time in prayer with your coffee, and mornings with the boys will be much easier to face.

Here's to a great school year!

Stay tuned for more on Surviving School With your Sons.

For the love of boys,

Laura

Get Your Boys Ready for School

Now that you've worked on your house -- readying the closets, the kitchen, and the study area -- it's times for you to get the boys ready.

Shop for supplies. Be sure you get lists from the school before you go shopping. And even though you shop ahead, remember that you may need to make a trip to the store after the first day of school, as your boys get more information about what they need.

Shop for a back-to-school surprise. Look for something small and special each boy would like to "celebrate" the back-to-school season. Find something for each son that's not a necessity. A new alarm clock? A special lunchbox? Some special markers? Surprise the boys the night before school.

Visit school. If it will make your son feel more comfortable, take a quick trip to school. Maybe you can even meet his teacher and if it's a new school, you get get the "lay of the land."

Check schedules. If your boys take the bus, be sure you know the time and place of pick up and drop off. If they'll be involved in after-school activities, get the times and details for those.

Adjust bedtimes. Make bedtime gradually earlier each night until you've reached the golden "bedtime hour" that you'll use during the school year.

Pray about the school year. Pray for the boys' teachers and friends. Look for a Moms in Touch group that meets monthly to pray for their children. Check out momsintouch.org/ to find out more about this group, and check roster.momsintouch.org/GroupLocator/ to locate a group in your area.

For the love of boys,

Laura

Get the Study Area Ready

Your boys need a place to study! You may not have a separate room available, but it’s important to set up a space that fits several criteria. Here are some basic things you should expect from a good study area:

Quiet and free from distraction

Counter, tabletop or desk

Good lighting

For some of us, this will be the kitchen or dining room table. That’s fine, especially if Mom or Dad will be close by. You may be needed to help your sons refocus or you may be called upon for homework help. You don’t have to stand over them, but do stay close, walk in and out of the room, or work or read quietly in the same room.

If the study area has a television, just pull the plug till everyone’s homework is done. This may be frustrating for brothers who are already finished, but they just need to find something else to do until their brother is done. A little waiting never hurt anyone, and you can always record something to enjoy later.

A few miscellaneous homework tips

Homework on the computer should take priority over games.

Let the boys run a bit, blow off steam for about thirty minutes before calling them in to work on homework.

Put together a box or drawer for school supplies. If you already have one, refresh the supplies before school starts.

Help your boys plan ahead. Keep a calendar to note long-term projects.

So, get the study area ready! Don’t let homework get ahead of you. Create a homework-friendly space, and your boys are more likely to have success in school.

For the love of boys,

Laura

Get the Kitchen Ready for Back to School

With the closets under control, it's time to turn toward the kitchen. There are a couple of things you can do now to make the opening days of school easier.

Stock up on breakfast and lunch items and after-school snacks. Think healthy. Mom can't always control what the boys eat away from home, so at least have a handle on what they eat while under your roof.

Organize the pantry so your boys can reach breakfast items themselves. Be sure you have some on-the-go items for those mornings when things are crazy. One mom I know fills bins with breakfast bars and applesauce cups for manic mornings.

Make sure you have a good supply of sandwich bags and plastic spoons for packing lunches.

Make an outing of choosing new lunch boxes!

Make a list of family dinner favorites and start planning the first week's menu. If you plan ahead and shop on Saturday for the coming week, you'll be a lot more likely to cook a healthy (and economical) dinner for your family.

Come up with something special for a night-before-school dinner. Fix the kids' favorite or just bake up a back-to-school cake.

Choose what works for you and your boys, and get yourselves ready for school.

For the love of boys,

Laura

Back to School Tips - Get the Closets Ready

The first in the three-pronged approach to back to school readiness is Get the House Ready.

The first plan of attack is your sons' closets. No matter what their age, you'll need to initiate closet cleanout, because they're rather unlikely to even consider that on their own. You'll need their help, however. Getting their input on what fits and what doesn't, what they like and hate will make the whole process easier and more efficient. Besides, moms need to teach their sons how to take care of their clothes. Someday they'll be filling up (and maybe even cleaning out?) closets on their own. Toddlers to teens need to be involved in this process.

First, make some piles. Boys love chucking stuff in piles. Make up three little signs -- Too Small, Don't Wear, Worn Out. If your boys don't read yet, let them come up with a funny picture for each. Place the signs in three separate areas of the room and start the "weeding out" process.

Next, bag and move. If the "too smalls" and the "don't wears" can go to a brother or other, move them. If not, bag them up for Goodwill or a charitable clothes closet.

Next is your search and discover mission. Have the boys search their closet for their school clothes and warmer clothes.

It's now moving time. Move the school clothes and warmer clothes to the front of the closet, organizing them as you go. If your son wears uniforms to school, put the shirt together by color and sleeve length, then follow with the pants.

The next area to attack is belts and shoes. Use a special hanger for belts or put them in a bin or basket. Make sure everyday shoes for school are front and center and easy to find.

If your son has clothes in drawers, bins or baskets, follow the same steps to organize those areas. If you have toddlers, consider a 2 rod system for your closet so they can reach items easily. One of my mom friends has invested in canvas pockets that hang from the rod. She places shirts in one, shorts in another, etc., and her 3 year old son can easily find his own clothes.

Now, get rid of those "too smalls," "don't wears," and "worn outs." NOW! You can take the boys along to drop them off at Goodwill -- it's a great way for them to see how their stuff can help others. If you're pressed for time, most charitable organizations will come by and pick up if you just give them a call.

A few extra hints

Lost shoes can be disaster on school mornings. I established a front hall shoe lineup for my boys, and they kicked off and deposited their shoes there. One of the boys had the job of "straightening the shoes in the front hall" each night before bed.

Consider a "tomorrow spot" in each boy's room or closet. Encourage them to place the clothes they'll wear tomorrow in that spot each night before bed. That way, if for some reason the favorite shirt just HAS to be worn tomorrow and it's dirty, you'll at least know 12 hours before so you can show him how to throw it in the washer.

So go attack those closets. Choose your poison -- get them all over with in one day or set aside a day for each son. It's up to you. But do it now and you'll save yourself aggravation later.

Anything that will make school mornings go more smoothly is worth a little summer time. And don't forget, Mom -- all that you do now is training for your sons' futures.

For the love of boys,

Laura

The Waning Days of Summer

The days of summer are fading away, and it will soon be time for the boys to board the bus. Shifting gears isn't easy, but it will be less painful if you take it slow and involve your sons.

I suggest a three-pronged approach:

• Get the house ready.


• Get yourself ready.


• Get the boys ready.

Boys need activity, and you need their help and support as you face the school year. If you involve them, it will give them something to do and help them gradually begin the shift toward school. Kids are always more "on board" if they feel they're a part of something, so make your sons a part of the going back to school plans.

It's not too early or too late to start. Just pick and choose from the upcoming Back to School With Your Boys tips! Do what works for you.

Stay tuned for some suggestions on getting the house ready for the school year. We'll concentrate on three areas: the closets, the kitchen, and study space.

For the love of boys,

Laura

A Son's Summer Musings

One of my sons, Andrew (the third one), has put forth the fruits of his summer efforts. He has created an EP called Summer Musings. Andrew composed, performed, and recorded these songs, and they're below for you to sample.

The subject of Andrew's songs ranges from life with three brothers in the 90's to spiritual musing to the loss of a beloved grandfather. I think you'll enjoy his thoughtful and fun lyrics coupled with a soothing folk/acoustical style.

You can listen to previews for free below, and if you'd like a free download of all the songs, just click. The album is downloaded through NoiseTrade, a website that has a unique approach to music. For the price of emailing five friends through their website, you get the album free. (It doesn’t put anyone on a mailing list.) If you'd rather pay, and you can choose your own price from $1 to $25 and get the full download.

Hope you enjoy Andrew's Summer Musings. I'd love to hear what you think!

A Last-Minute Vacation!

Many families found themselves a little pinched in the pocketbook this summer, and ended up staying close to home rather than taking the annual family vacation. If that describes your family, this tip may be just what you’re looking for.

Or maybe you’re just looking for a way to liven up the last few minutes of summer. Regardless, a Stay-at-Home Vacation may be just what you need before embarking on the great adventure of the school year.

Vacation at home for a week. There are no rules – it’s up to you to set the boundaries and be creative. You can:

Have a family meeting and vote on one destination.

Plan a real vacation for next summer.

Decide on several different destinations.

Next, you’ll need to do some research. Some great places for this?

The library
A travel agency
Your local AAA

Now it’s time to plan. Get a big map and mark the route. Have one of your boys type up an itinerary for everyone. Check out food choices at your destination, and plan the week’s menu.

When it’s time for your scheduled stay-at-home vacation, plan a special breakfast to kick it off. Plan one inexpensive special activity for each day – a scavenger hunt, a trip to a special park or pool, something. Take a picnic. Splurge and stock up on some special food for each day – lunch at the hot dog stand, ice cream sundaes after dinner, or food characteristic to your destination. Rent movies for the family that are set in your location or are just fun movies you’ve always wanted to see.

On your last day home, have a “Welcome Home” party for the family.

You’ll make great family memories.

For the love of boys,
Laura

Last Summer Fun Tip -- Mentor Someone!

End your summer on a helpful note. Use these last few weeks to lend a hand to someone else. Mentor someone.

If your sons are old enough to help others with school work, look for a younger child they can share their knowledge with. It will be a great review for your son and for the child he mentors while bridging the gap between summer and school.

If your sons have a special skill or talent, find a way for them to share it with another child. Do you know a little boy who has never been fishing? Let your teenage son take him out to bait a hook. Is your son a wonder with Legos? Get him together with another boy who wants to learn and let him share his Legos and his creativity.

If your boys are younger, you can teach them the value of helping others by mentoring another family. Find a single mom or a mom whose husband is in the service, and band together to help them. Invite them over for a play date, feed them dinner, and just show them a good time. Be sensitive to their needs and find other ways to help.

Here's another idea for the entire family. Ever consider adopting a child through World Vision? Check out http://www.worldvision.org/ and look into supporting a child in another country, as a family.

Coming soon to this very spot: Ideas to help you and your boys get ready for school.

In the meantime, enjoy these last few lazy weeks of summer -- and mentor someone along the way.

For the love of boys,
Laura