5 Tips in Riding the Back to School Momentum

The beginning of autumn evokes feelings of excitement, anticipation and new beginnings!

There is a shift in the air. Can you feel it? A crispness in the air suggests the end of summer is just around the corner. It is a natural time for planning and thinking through schedules, goals, ambitions. For some it’s making resolutions. In many ways September resembles the New Year. Moms can feel the pressure begin to build; the list of what needs to be done suddenly begins to grow and urgency increases. Deciding on which programs to register for and hunkering down on back to school shopping can bring mixed emotions.

Although it can be useful to ride the wave of momentum there is a very real danger of getting caught up in trying to do too much all at once.

Personally, I was getting frustrated looking at my one-bedroom apartment. The change in temperature signaled to me that it was time to get out the winter clothes. Looking around I recognized that the kid toys could use a decluttering, Online and in-person, moms have begun buzzing about the next school year. Birthday parties to plan.

What’s for dinner tonight again?

Gulp.

At that moment a thousand alarm bells started to fire in my head screaming, “Pay attention to me! Look at this!” Add to that a difficult night the day before with my three children demanding attention, I was beginning to feel a bit of panic. I messaged my fellow Catholic Mom Group Leaders asking for their prayers.

The back-to-school season can be exciting and stressful in any state of life you are in. With so many different thoughts, plans and hopes it can be hard to make decisions and get the clarity we need.

In these moments of overwhelm I call to mind the story of Jesus walking on the water. Jesus tells us “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Matt.14:27). Keeping our eyes firm on Christ, we can soberly take the next step. Practically speaking, that means breaking up the big scary tasks into smaller steps and focusing on what God is calling you to do as it arises. We do not need to sprint across. We are just asked to walk towards Him in faith.

Take advantage of the September momentum to make plans, but do not allow the excitement to transform itself into an agitation that can rob you of your peace.

Some practical ways to help orient ourselves to the back to school season include:

1. Write it down! Don’t forget to make lists! Decide what’s really important and what’s not. This can help you to sift the immediate from the long-term goals, as well as relieve your mind from the mental load. Recently I’ve begun writing down my goals and petitions and placing them in a little box at the foot of a statue of the Virgin Mary. It is a concrete way I signal that I am taking all my cares and giving them to Jesus, through Mary.
   
   
2. The Sacraments. Regular confession and reception of Our Lord in the Eucharist give us grace to be closer to our God. In a very real sense, they are the steps we take towards Jesus on the stormy waters of our lives. He is always waiting for you in the Blessed Sacrament. As a part of your back to school ritual, why not make sure your kids get to confession too?
   
   
3. Talk to a friend. You are not alone. The encouragement and prayers from fellow moms refresh the soul. Find a Catholic Moms Group near you or consider starting one.
   
   
4. Self-care. An impromptu dance party with the kids, listening to a beautiful song, a cup of coffee... Be intentional about remembering the things that lift your spirits. A quick visit to Eucharistic Adoration will refresh you and give you clarity. Joining a Catholic Moms Group is a fantastic way to take care of yourself. Don’t underestimate the power of belonging to a community of like-minded moms. It’s liberating in many ways.
   
   
5. Pray the Back to School Novena. This resource is a must. It is absolutely beautiful – filled to the brim with powerful prayers and practical ways to help engage your children in the Catholic faith.

While Our Lord does not give us more than we can handle, we ourselves often bite off more than we can chew. Sometimes we overschedule, isolate or we place unrealistic expectations on ourselves. More often than not, the stress we carry is not ours to bear. The scriptures tell us to cast all of our anxieties on Him, because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). It’s imperative that we rest in the Lord.

“Oh, how much I wish from you this surrender, to help you and how I suffer when I see you so agitated! Satan tries to do exactly this: to agitate you and to remove you from my protection and to throw you into the jaws of human initiative. So, trust only in me, rest in me, surrender to me in everything. O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!”
-From Servant of God, Don Dolindo Ruotolo’s Surrender Novena

Cathy Quartarone de Valdez is a wife and stay-at-home mom to three. She spends most of her time in Etobicoke where she is a Catholic Mom’s group leader and a part of the Catholic homeschool community. On weekends you are likely to find her in Oshawa where she attends a Slovak Greek Catholic church and is active in parish life. Cathy is passionate about exploring the beauty of our faith and helping wives and mothers find joy in their vocations.