Stay Connected: Send a Note to School with Your Kids
By Sandy Schroeder
As school moves ahead, everything from backpacks to phones to snacks come up for discussion, but recently, Justin Parmenter, an elementary school teacher, had another idea for helping kids stay connected through it all.
He went on the CBS Morning Show to suggest parents send notes along with their students when they head off to school. He recommended notes to make them laugh, remind them they are loved, or cheer them on as they struggle with reading, math and soccer. Here is a sample of a note that could show up in a backpack or lunch bag.
“Don’t give up Tim. You can do this. Love you, Mom”
Who can forget those jittery moments when we all started back to school, trying to look right, fit in, and not do something totally stupid? If we look closely at our kids as they wolf down their breakfast cereal, they may be a little nervous too as they head off to school.
As a parent, you might send along a message with their snack or lunch to let them know you are there whenever they need you.
Follow Up Later
At the end of the day, be there, however you can manage it, to find out what actually went down. A sit down dinner with no electronics could give you a very quick reading. The first day may have been “amazing, just OK, or almost a total wipeout.” But it will help if you are there to listen, talk it through and just absorb some of the impact.
If you can’t manage dinner, see about a mid-evening snack or a healthy fruit-filled dessert session for everyone, where everybody gets to talk about their day.
It won’t always work the way you expected, but you can be sure it will register with your kids that you were there listening to what they said. Later, when you tuck them in you may get the whole story. You might find out how they really feel about that healthy sandwich that you packed, since they actually traded it for something else! Or you may hear the startling details about how someone teased them or made them feel like a jerk. It is not always easy to listen, but it can be a big clue to know what to say in your next note.
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