I feel like I've barely gotten into the summer groove and now it's already time to think about back-to-school. This year my kids are going back earlier, a full week and a half before Labor Day, so I'm trying hard to not pass along my negativity of a shortened summer along to my kids. The non-structured days have been such a welcome reprieve from the live-by-the-bus-schedule life of the school year. Truth is, the thought of getting back into the grind has me a bit anxious.
I realize I'm not alone as "Back-to-School" doesn't only affect the kids… It's a very busy and stressful time for moms. According to a study by The Marketing to Moms Coalition, the majority of moms (54%) perceive the summer and back-to-school time frame to be the busiest time of the year. And moms already report being too busy. In fact 72% of moms reveal they are overscheduled Gallup survey). Back-to-school and all the accompanying activities simply makes a mom more so.
Here are some tips to simplify life and provide some peace-of-mind for us Moms as our kids enter the busy back-to-school season:
First, organize and halt (at least some of) the chaos before it begins. Visit the school and get to know the teachers and obtain their supply list before school starts. And bring the lists wherever you go so when you spot a bargain, you can pick it up and immediately cross it off your list, saving you both time and money.
Also before you know it you will be barraged with an onslaught of papers and emails regarding the kids and all their potential activities. First, before you actually commit to anything (for yourself or for your kids) think about whether or not that activity is essential and if it enhances, or contrarily, takes time away from your priorities. This is one I have to remind myself of constantly. There are so many great things to do… I truly get excited. But if the calendar is starting to look like a traffic jam on the interstate you're going to cause yourself too much stress and everyone suffers. Also, take the time now to find a family planner to organize the chaos! I have one that begins in August for back-to-school and has a row for each family member (Mom Agenda wall calendar… love it!) and I keep it in a central area for everyone to see. It has my husband's and my travel commitments and all the activities of my three little guys. With a family of 5 to organize, it's a lifesaver!
Another stress for moms at this time of year is meal preparation. Meals all-too-often are wedged between activities which forces even health conscious moms to grab meals on the fly or skip meals all together. It's great to know ways to cut corners by having some convenient healthy food options on hand in the event you don't have time to prepare a meal. I'm a tuna lover and Starkist just came out with a great idea….It's their Tuna Salad Sandwich-Ready Pouches.
It's a little gourmet tuna salad made easy and you can find them in the grocery isle next to the cans of tuna. My little guy Danny loves it on crackers and I love to pair with a salad or bread for a quick nutritious meal. It's packed with protein and Omega 3's and has only 100calories. Can't beat that!
The other time of day that I need to cut corners, more often than I'd like to admit, is breakfast time. Last year Mikey was in kindergarten and his bus came at the ridiculous hour of 7:30. I had all could do to prop him up and get him dressed in bed and carry the limp noodle down the stairs. Forget about a big breakfast! Given that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it's often too chaotic (or too early) to prepare a breakfast I like to have something on hand that is nutritious, quick and easy like Carnation Instant Breakfast Essentials . It's a great tasting breakfast drink that's loaded with nutrients. Mikey loves the chocolate… What better way to start the day than with chocolate milk! And it has more than two times the protein of an egg, two times the calcium of a cup of yogurt and 21 essential vitamins and minerals. I also like the price tag: it only costs an average of 76 cents per serving including the milk! Carnation Instant Breakfast Essentials comes in several flavors and two forms: powder flavor packets to add to milk or ready-to-drink single serving bottles.
Another big stressor for moms is the fact that back-to-school also ushers in the cold and flu season. It's not enough that a sick child is a sad mom, but working moms also fear job security as parents miss millions of workdays each year to stay home to care for their sick children and moms are usually the primary child caregiver. Remember to keep after your kids to wash their hands, cough into the fold of their elbow (it's amazing we were told as kids to cover our mouth with our hands!), eat well, drink lots of water and get enough sleep. But no matter what precautions you take school is a melting pot of germs and your kids will inevitably catch some sort of bug. So when your kids do get sick what medicines are safe? That of course was the question of the year when the FDA last season questioned the safety and effectiveness of antihistamines, decongestants and cough suppressants for young children. It seemed that there was nothing you could do to help your kids feel better and parents felt the stress. The answer: consider options that do not include those ingredients. Moms have been using the homeopathic medicine Oscillococcinum, at the first sign of flu-like symptoms, for over 65 years. Now there's a children's version that tastes slightly sweet, dissolves under the tongue, and ends the wrestling match to administer medicine to the kids. It's all-natural and there are no side effects or risk of interaction with other drugs. The makers suggest you take at the first sign of symptoms to nip them in the bud. Also new to the children's aisle is a line of safe cough (Chestal) and cold (Coldcalm) medicines. Unlike most homeopathic medicines you can easily find Oscillococcinum in such retailers as CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Whole Foods Markets, Vitamin Shoppe and natural product stores nationwide. By the way, the way to pronounce Oscillococcinum is O•sillo•cox•enum or you can refer to it as Oscillo for short. Go to www.oscillo.com for more information.
Stay healthy and enjoy the final days of summer!
While on the road, you need to protect both your self and your wallet. It's important to protect your valuables and belongings on vacation – including your money, credit cards, and identification. About 8 million people each year fall victim to identity theft and for many, this happens while on vacation. First, make sure to use the safes in the hotel rooms and lock up any valuables and possessions. When out in public, get a moneybelt. These can go under your clothes and can keep all your important info – and can help prevent pick-pocketing. 
A cell phone is a very smart thing to have with you on a road trip as roadside assistance and emergency help are just a phone call away. And don't forget your charger, as I have done on more than one occasion... or the phone will do you absolutely no good!If you don't want the monthly commitment associated with so many phones you might want to have a pre-paid calling plan. And, be certain to "put your love ones on ICE". In other words, program the contact information for your love ones into the phone and categorize it under ICE, or "in case of emergency." 
Next, you're going to want to spend a bit of time on the menu and food preparation. A little organization goes a long way as the more you do before the party day the more relaxed you are going to be and the more fun you will have. When speaking with your guests make a point of asking about any food restrictions so that all will have a stress-free meal. I also like to suggest potluck as the way to go for outdoor entertaining. It's always casual, you get a sampling of all sorts of different food (think smorgasbord!) and it's friendlier on the wallet. 
It was funny, I did a segment on
