Skip to main content

Back to School Priorities

by Meagan Waite, Assistant Director - My Discovery Destination!

August can be a very exciting time of year. But before we delve into the reasons behind that, let’s look at the word “excited.” 

“Excited” is synonymous with enthusiastic, animated and wildly happy. But, it also has a close meaning to these words: agitated, nervous, and emotional. Because of the very nature of the event, going back to school can cause all kinds of feelings. And, different children are going to have different reactions to the pending affair. What is a parent to do? 

I think the key here might be one word: understanding. Remember what it was like when every fall you had to return to the grindstone with a new class, new teacher, and sometimes an entirely new school? While that might be long in your past, you can still empathize with what your child might be going through. Exercise patience, show a little mercy, and be compassionate with everyone involved, including yourself. 

I was recently introduced to an interesting concept, which proves that one is never too old to learn something new. When constructing a new building, “footings are an important part of foundation construction. They are typically made of concrete with rebar reinforcement that has been poured into an excavated trench. The purpose of footings is to support the foundation and prevent settling. Footings are especially important in areas with troublesome soils” (concretenetwork.com). The foundation is built on top of the footings, and the building is framed on the foundation. If the footings are faulting, the foundation won’t be too far behind, and the framed building will be unstable; no one will want to occupy that building. 

If we look at a relationship as a building under construction, the footings would be the understanding that children receive from their parents. If we, as parents, do our best to lovingly understand our children, then they will learn that they can trust us. Love will grow naturally from that trust. Trust is the foundation of our building, and love is the frame on which it stands. 

So while you’re busy doing all the things you need to do to go back to school–the clothes, backpacks, lunchboxes, school supplies, snack bags, schedule changes, sports registration, and music lessons– remember what REALLY matters...YOU.

Remember that the Discovery Family Adventures are always available, with new Adventures being released weekly, to help if you are looking for ideas and resources.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Oh, The Places You'll Go...

  by Meagan Waite, Assistant Director - My Discovery Destination! Dr. Seuss, the beloved children’s author, wrote “Green Eggs and Ham” on a bet. The co-founder of Random House Publishing, Mr. Bennett Cerf, wagered that Seuss couldn’t write a book that had fewer than 50 unique words. Seuss won 50 bucks, and we have a piece of literary art with which one cannot help but rhyme along.  If you haven’t read it, you should. It can get you thinking about the relationship between what you believe and what you experience. It can encourage you to think outside the box (no would-nots, could-nots for you!) and try new things. It can give you courage to show resilience in the face of challenges, opposition, and adversity. Yes, reading can do that for you. March is National Reading Month. It has been designated as such in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, March 2. My Discovery Destination! is celebrating. How? With a Discovery Hunt, of course! In fact, we bet YOU that you are going to love this ...
2 comments
Read more

#FinancialFriday: When Teaching Kids Financial Literacy, Start With EXAMPLE

  Leading by Example: Teaching Kids Financial Literacy Through Real-Life Actions As parents and guardians, we play a profound role in shaping our children's understanding of the world. While imparting academic knowledge is crucial, teaching practical life skills like financial literacy is equally vital. One of the most effective ways to instill financial wisdom in young minds is by leading through example. By showcasing responsible financial behavior and involving children in everyday financial decisions, we can empower them with valuable skills that will last a lifetime. The Power of Modeling Children are keen observers, absorbing information from their surroundings like sponges. This makes modeling positive financial behavior a powerful teaching tool. When kids see responsible financial habits in action, they're more likely to internalize these behaviors and adopt them as their own. Here are some ideas of ways to use the power of example to help your kids develop healthy fina...
Post a Comment
Read more

Love Is In the Air

by Meagan Waite, Assistant Director - My Discovery Destination! It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and the world is all-aflutter with overpriced red roses, paper hearts, and boxes of chocolate. I am also aware of the fact that some people refer to February 14 as Singles Awareness Day–I am in that demographic myself. Now I’m not down on romance just because I am currently footloose and fancy free. Just because this is the month of “amore” doesn’t mean that it is only referring to fairytale love. English is among the largest languages by word count. That being said, we native English speakers don’t have nearly enough for the word “love.” Now, the Greeks…they know about words of love.  Eros means passion. Philia is a deep friendship. Ludus is a playful love. Philautia is the love of self. But, it is agape, the love for everyone, and pragma, long standing love, that I wish to talk about. I believe that the love of a parent for their child falls into a combination of agape and pragma–an all e...
Post a Comment
Read more