Top Tips for Surviving August with the Kids
With August arriving next week, September will follow soon after! If that
- Depresses you
- Stresses you
- Terrifies the living daylights out of you or
- All of the above ...then you need to read these tips to help you enjoy these last few weeks of Summer. All hope is not lost, there is still plenty of fun to be had in the next few weeks as you prepare for the new school year.
Chill
Relax. September is coming up fast and there is a lot to organise before schools reopen but remember to carve out some precious time for yourself. Not every waking minute needs to be spent with the kids or trying to shop for the kids. Go for a coffee or dinner with friends or run a bath. Maybe even set aside a couple of hours to finally finish that book you started on holidays. Seems like a lifetime ago, doesn’t it?
Strategise
Have a conversation with your kids about what hobbies or sports they might want to pick up this year. This will give them time to change their mind a thousand times before deciding.Shop Early
Pens, pencils, highlighters, staplers…These things seem inexpensive on their own but, when they’re bought all at once in a desperate last minute shopping splurge, you might find yourself looking at a small mortgage!
Make Fun Memories 
There are only a handful of weekends left of the summer holidays. Make the most of them by planning fun things to do as a family. Maybe go to the zoo (it needs to be booked in advance), the beach or even for a walk around the local parks. Try to avoid any long car rides with the kids though, that would be a recipe for disaster! Don't Estimate Sizes!
Shopping for school uniforms isn’t fun for anyone but the early bird catches the worm and the early shopper catches the right size. There comes a point when saying “you’ll grow into it” just doesn’t apply when you’ve literally lost your child in an oversized shirt.Utilise Playdates 
Don’t feel bad about dropping your kids off at their friends house for a day. You will eventually have to return the favour but not before you get through as many friends as you can. Besides, you can’t seriously be expected to get all your back to school shopping done with the kids hanging out of you. That would just be cruel.
Plan Ahead
Try to mentally prepare yourself for the first week of school-runs. We know it’s a traumatic thought but it is better to be prepared now rather than waking up in complete denial on the first day of school. Plan your school route ahead of time! We’re talking safe bike routes, traffic updates, detours, back up plans; anything to make sure you get your kids there on time and safe.
Teen Training
Don’t get too hung up about your teenager sleeping all day. They’re not depressed, they’re just lazy teenagers who need their sleep. Resign yourself to force them out of bed only every second day. About ten days before their first day back to school, start waking them up an hour earlier everyday until they are back in the early morning routine.
Just Have Fun
Schooldays.ie article written by Megan Cronly, as published in the Sunday Business Post