I remember the preschool adventure. 

My daughter had already entered the world of paste and sand and, at 2, my son was longing at the gate to be admitted into the education scene. 

I was ready and said to one of my most favorite people, his soon-to-be preschool teacher, “Look, he’s ready, he needs this place!” 

About that time, and the only time ever, he lost it — his bladder control. Right there on the sidewalk. He ruined my supportive plan of entry. It was not quite time for him to enter into the unknown. 

Now we laugh, as he is a big man on campus as an eighth grader, and his older sibling is transitioning into the abyss of high school.

Transitions are difficult for all, children and parents. The world, as we now know it, changes dramatically. Parents lose some spirit and energy, which was abundant in the home for the summer, and the child’s world changes upon entering a new environment.   

As we begin the new school year we, as parents, need to attempt to settle the uneasiness, the fears and the excitement of the new world ahead.

Whether your child is entering unknown world of kindergarten, junior high or even high school, the fears of parents and children are present. 

Transitions are difficult and change can be worrisome, so it is to our advantage to share the new excitement with smiles and calmness.

Children feel when making the move to another school or grade:

• Excitement about seeing friends — playing, hanging — and former teachers
• Worry of leaving the parent or caregiver
• Feeling alone
• Fear of rejection
• Fear of not understanding the schedule or site
• Fear of the teacher and new rules
• Will they “fit” into the system?
• Fear of violence or unpredictable behavior

Ways to help ease the anxiety with your child could look like this:

• Visit the school site with your child prior to attending. (This is even important for the teens.)
• Go to Back-to-School Night. Meet the teachers, know the expectations.
• Be visible at school, even if only for a few days a year.
• Be proactive with School Loop. Check on the activities happening at the school and know how your child is doing academically. 
• Every day ask your child/teen, “Tell me three things that happened today.” Listen and ask more questions. Listen.
• Set up a complete homework station with needed materials. (More to follow in a September article.)
• Encourage a buddy or friend calling list. Have a play date or a "day to hang" with a new friend.
• Put a note in your child’s lunch box or backpack on the first day. Let them know you are thinking of them and believing in their success.
• Take them out on a “Great Beginning” date. Have ice cream or a special treat.

Parents have the same feelings of angst and can get teary-eyed as they seeing their child or teen moving forward into the unknown. 

Relax, parents. Take a deep breath and trust your child. Believe in them. They will handle this new world with the tools you have given them. They will be fine. Even if there are tears, especially in the younger years, all will be fine.

As a parent, try not to hang on the fence, crying, as your little one wanders off to their first day of kindergarten. Instead, reduce your anxiety by gathering with friends after delivering your child the first day. Set off on a walk, go out for coffee or even take in a movie. 

Aristotle is quoted as saying, “Change in all things is sweet.” A quote that makes me laugh is from Robert C. Gallagher: “Change is inevitable—except from a vending machine.”  And of course, my favorite, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference,” by Reinhold Niebuhr.

May you find peace in the changes ahead and enjoy the quiet home (at least until school gets out!).