Back-to-School Without the Stress
Back-to-School Without the Stress: How We Found Our Calm (and You Can Too)
If back-to-school season feels like a whirlwind in your house, I get it. For years, our family’s transition from summer to school mode was anything but smooth: late nights, frazzled mornings, and a lot of deep sighing.
But this year was different.
It was calm. Connected. Even… joyful.
And I want to share why, because you can have this too.
The Old Pattern: Highs, Lows, and Chaos
For a long time, our back-to-school rhythm looked the same: huge emotional highs, exhausting lows, and a nervous system on constant alert. My kids and I had been living that way for so long, our brains were trained to expect that “back-to-school = stress.”
It wasn’t that we wanted chaos - it just felt familiar. And the nervous system loves what’s familiar, even when it’s draining.
The Shift: Resetting the Nervous System
Everything changed when I started regulating my own nervous system. Once I found my baseline, my kids naturally synced with it.
As the mother (the matriarch) I learned to be the anchor. When we drift off course (because we still do sometimes), I guide us back. Not just emotionally, but physically - our home, our routines, even our puppy all come back to a state of balance.
Because of that, big transitions no longer knock us over. Whether it’s starting 7th grade or switching to a whole new school program, we can handle it. We still do the practical prep, haircuts, school shopping, earlier bedtimes, but without the emotional roller coaster.
The Tools That Keep Us Steady
When big feelings do come up (and 7th grade can bring big feelings), we use our tools:
Talk it out – no judgment, just open conversation.
Move our bodies – shake out the stress.
Get outdoors – fresh air shifts the nervous system fast.
Breathe – simple breathwork to reset in the moment.
These aren’t one-time fixes; they’re woven into our daily lives.
Why Calm Can Feel Uncomfortable (at First)
Many people live in cycles of highs and lows… not by choice, but because their nervous systems are wired for it. Calm can actually feel strange at first, like something’s “missing.”
But with time (and the right support), your body can relearn that balance is safe. That’s one of the things I love about somatic work - it helps you reset quickly, without years of trial and error.
A New Season, A New Rhythm
I love summer mode: slow mornings, late nights, no schedule. And I also love the return to routine. I love seeing the little kids in my neighborhood walking or scootering to school while I drive my middle schooler, and knowing my high schooler can find his own way.
We’re just a few days in, but we’ve found our rhythm, and it’s peaceful, grounded, and balanced.
You can create this too. Start with your own nervous system. Anchor yourself, and your family will follow. Back-to-school doesn’t have to mean losing your calm.
Ready to Start Your Family's Nervous System Reset?
Want to put these tools into practice? One of the simplest techniques my family uses (including my 13-year-old daughter) is box breathing. It takes just 5 minutes and works anywhere—perfect for those back-to-school moments when you need quick calm.
Watch my Box Breathing Tutorial: 5-Minute Nervous System Reset (Perfect for Kids & Adults)
This is the same breath my daughter reaches for when she's stressed, and it can become your family's go-to tool too. Start building these skills now—your nervous system will thank you for it.
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