It’s hard to believe that it’s been a month already since my last column!  Kids are back in school, busses are on the road and carpools are en route.  Please be extra special careful when driving!

Of course, as a result of the kids being back in school our schedules change too!  There’s more to do but in the same amount of time!  Hmmmmm, how does that work?  Well, it just seems to because we are moms.  We pray! Whether it is before you step out of bed or on the road to school; we make sure we pray!  It makes me smile when I’m driving my 16 year old to school and he reaches for my hand when we hit a certain point on our school route.  If we haven’t already prayed, he will lean over and turn the radio down. Sometimes my mind is on so many other things, but he remembers that we need to pray.  There was another time when my 22 year old was enlisted to take my 16 year old to school and he turned down the radio so they could pray together.  PRAISE GOD for these huge blessings!  Prayer makes all the difference in our days.  It may not seem like we are getting through, but with God on our side, we will.

Each child is different, as we all know.  My firstborn was all over the place on school mornings.  My second born had his clothes laid out for the week at the age of 5, all on his own!  (Not sure where he got that from….I’m not that organized!  I wish!)  Of course things change over the years and they become teenagers!  Need I say more?

The best thing I can suggest is to do whatever we can the evening before; pack lunches, check folders, sign notes, return papers and place in folders, and send checks when required.  Again, with two totally different types of children, I had to pull together all of my older son’s notes into a folder, (they usually just got shoved in his backpack), but my second child had them all neatly in order in the folder.  But again I say, they become teenagers and it does change somewhat.

Each of our children has his own special gift(s) that God has blessed him with. If we can just help them excel in those areas, or even just to help them identify those areas that they are good in, it can make the school year more productive and self-satisfying for them.

I have found that there is nothing that a teacher appreciates more than a word of thanks. An unexpected note of encouragement goes along way.  As we enter this new school year, keep your school principal, administrative staff, teachers and students in daily prayer.  Some of our schools aren’t even aware of the National Day of Prayer or See You at the Pole Day.  Let them know. It just takes a quick email.  And the best thing I can suggest is to talk with other moms.  Sometimes we feel so overwhelmed, but we are not- and I repeat not- alone!  We all feel overwhelmed and there just might be someone in your exact shoes and the two of you (or three or more) can help each other out!  Step out and make new friends.  Remember the threefold chord is the strongest; church, home and school.

God bless you in the new school year with your children whatever grade it might be, Pre-K through college, and be in prayer always.  May God place a hedge of protection over your children throughout their schooldays, sports events, after-school events and travels to and from school.

Looking forward to next month!  I’m open to feedback on your beginning month of school!

Posted under Working Moms