The Back to School Issue
OMG LUCY IS GOING TO KINDERGARTEN / August 2023 - Newsletter #19
This newsletter is basically a round-up of life things - what I'm enjoying, reading, learning, buying, doing, thinking about, and more. Thanks for being here! 💛
Hi friends! Oh my goodness I can’t believe we’re already at the end of the summer. I don’t know when school starts where you live, but it feels so early here in Nashville! Lucy starts kindergarten next week! As cliché as it sounds, time really is flying by and it’s a very surreal and strange feeling.
As usual, I have lots of feelings. This kindergarten transition feels like A LOT. At my core, I KNOW Lucy is going to thrive. She’s been in a school-like environment for years and loves learning and being around others. We’ve been talking about and preparing for this for a long time and I know she’s a little nervous, but she’s also really excited. We talk a lot about how we can feel two things at one time. We talk a lot about being brave. I’ve often told her the story of dropping her off on her first day at her Parent’s Day Out program. Many other kids cried at the door (totally normal) at drop-off, but 18-month-old Lucy looked at me and in her little baby voice goes “Bye!” and turned around to go into her classroom. She laughs at the story and goes “Bye!” in her now five-year-old voice. I know deep down in my core that she will be okay. But that doesn’t mean the flutter of ALL THE FEELINGS in my head and heart aren’t still there.
One piece of advice that a fellow parent shared really stuck out to me. She shared that “like most things: the anticipation is worse than the actual event.” I remember being so nervous to leave her overnight for the first time. I remember being anxious about her starting her Parents Day Out program, being away from me and doing only one nap per day vs her usual two. I remember being anxious about potty training and the numerous other big and small transitions that happen in the first few years of a child’s life. But in almost every scenario, the anxiety and worry and stress and ‘what-ifs’ felt a lot more heavy BEFORE we ripped the Band-aid off, so to speak, and the transition or big milestone actually just happened.
We - both us grown-ups and our little kids that are turning into big kids - can do hard things.
I’m holding on to that. 💛
I recently asked my wonderful IG community "What do you wish you would have known or what advice/encouragement do you have for someone as their kid goes to kindergarten?" and was so comforted by the wise, encouraging, loving words I received from other parents. I compiled all of the great advice and feedback into this blog post (Crowdsourced Kindergarten Advice + Encouragement). Here are a few of the tangible/practical pieces of advice that I really loved:
Order Matching Bracelets! Just search ‘The First Day of School’ bracelets and you’ll see a bunch of options! Lucy loves jewelry and I knew would love this. I ordered this bracelet set and we’ll each wear one bracelet to us of each other throughout the day.
Take First Day Photos BEFORE the actual first day of school. This is absolutely something we’ll do! I know that I’ll want photos documenting this big milestone, but also know that asking Lucy to pose for a photo and putting pressure to ‘capture the moment’ on an already emotionally overwhelming (early!) morning is a recipe for disaster. We’re going to do a first-day outfit try-on the day BEFORE school, and take ‘First Day’ photos then!
Write a short encouraging note and put it in their lunchbox or pocket – reminding them you love them and will see them soon!
Make Drop-off a Short and Positive Experience – obviously, it’s normal and okay to be sad! But try to put on a brave face for your child during this very new experience! Remember lots of parents are crying in their car or at home, too.
Print a Family Photo and put it in their backpack. Lucy loves displaying/carrying photos of us as a family so I have a photo printed she can keep in her backpack. Even if she doesn’t get to see it during the day, she knows it’s there. I’m also going to send her a little magnet in case she’s able to hang it inside her little classroom locker.
Read Books about Kindergarten/Going to School. Some top recommendations were:
The Kissing Hand (this is the one I ordered!)
The Invisible String (also ordered this one – know it’s also a top recommended book for discussing grief/loss with kids, too)
There’s a lot more wonderful advice and encouragement in this post, including how to help navigate your kid’s big feelings and your own.
Here are a few other school-related blog posts! 👇🏼
50+ Vegetarian Lunchbox Ideas for Kids and The Kids School Uniform Guide
BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING:
The girls have had the Pottery Barn backpacks (size small) for a few years, and Lucy got to pick out a new one for kindergarten in the large size! This is the one she picked out - it’s so cute and she LOVES it!
We’ve been using Bentgo lunchboxes for years and Lucy picked out this insulated lunch bag to carry it in, with a matching water bottle.
WORDS I WROTE:
“Just because one season comes to a close, doesn’t mean there isn’t more in the next season. There is more goodness and sweetness and joy and wonder and beauty and hard and messy and “gosh these really are the days” moments now and ahead.” — On being on a new phase in parenting
“Lately, I watch my girls and tangibly FEEL time slipping away. it’s going so fast and they are changing every day. I’m in the moment with them and at the same time, grieving that the moment won’t last forever. — It won’t be like this for long
WORDS I LOVE:
Growing up is hard to do / I know because I'm growing up with you
You are gonna fly someday / But you will always have a home /You're learning how to make your own way / And I'm learning to let you go / You were never mine to keep / You were always just on loan / So have a little patience with me / 'Cause I'm learning to let you go
I've gotta be honest / This might be the hardest thing I've had to do / Feels like the future came too soon / Now I'm slowly letting go
— “Learning to Let You Go” by JJ Heller
CODES & DISCOUNTS
BETTER DAYS - use code LUCKYANDI for 10% off
CHATBOOKS - use code LUCKYANDI20 for 20% off!
EIZZY BABY - use code ANDI25 for 25% off
HIYA VITAMINS - use this link for $15 first order + free shipping
NUULY - use this link for $10 off your first order!
SHOP LUCKY COLLECTIVE (my Moroccan textile shop!) - use code LUCKYANDI for 10% off!
PAST NEWSLETTERS
No. 18 - Life Lately & On Being Outside of Your Comfort Zone (July 2023)
No. 17 - Life Lately & On Prioritizing Joy (May 2023)
No. 16 - Life Lately & On Feeling Vulnerable (March 2023)
No. 15 - Life Lately & A Personal Question (January 2023)
No. 13 - September 2022 (The Travel Issue)
Thanks for reading! I love hearing from you so always feel free to shoot me a note!