Fellow of the American Psychological Association, Media Psychologist, and Author
Memoir Writing, Blogging, and Ghostwriting​
Weekly Doses of Pop-up Psych
We all make cringey mistakes and deserve to move on, rather than feel confused or regretful after an icky social situation. Each week, I will dissect a murky social, life cycle, or pop culture topic to help you understand, learn, and move on. As a former academic, I am a super-picky consumer of research (and you should be too) as well as the content I create and share, so those new solutions, data and/or additional resources have certainly met my approval.
Tips for Surviving Back-to-School, aka, The September S**t Show
The Wednesday after Labor Day – the usual first day of school in my town is a day parents celebrate and students dread. We flip the calendar into September and take in Labor Day to savor the last few lazy hours of summer before the September S**t Show begins, when alarms are set for early wake up and barefoot dinners on the deck are replaced by homework and after-school activities.
This year, the “September S**t Show” began in June. I walked into Target to get stuff for the Fourth of July and I was greeted by those three words: Back-to-School. School had only ended a week earlier; my sons’ backpacks hadn’t even been unpacked. Then, I went to Old Navy where I was confronted with clothes in fall colors – and sweaters! I almost lost it when I saw the pumpkin being introduced in early August.
Back-to-School Is a Lot of Pressure
My sons will be seniors in high school this year, so we understand the rules of the rodeo. The new school year provides that clean slate to create a fresh beginning that comes with its share of angst that can throw off even the most organized parents.
You Have Company
Just because the Back-to-School bandwagon starts recruiting early, doesn’t mean you have to jump on it. We are all feeling a little overwhelmed by switching gears. Just because nobody is complaining about it, doesn’t mean it’s not there.
Everything Will Be Okay
Teachers’ lists, or lack thereof, can be very stressful. On the one hand, when teachers share long, detailed lists, it seems impossible to find that exact eco-friendly purple folder with punch holes. On the other hand, no list in advance can be daunting because by the time you get it, that purple folder is now on backorder. All you can do is your best. Teachers are the quintessential magicians – and parents, too – so a temporary solution will be created to fill the gap.
Don’t Forget Yourself
My mother has always said, “You can’t control Mother Nature.” Weather changes and time passes, whether or not we’re ready. We see the date creeping closer on our calendar, but it still hits like a ton of bricks. Thus, we parents need to be nice to ourselves. There is so much going on with managing the transition and running around that it’s easy to forget to take care of ourselves. The show will go on whether you are rested and restored or not.
Celebrate Your Family Without Comparing Yourself to Others
There are no gold stars for surviving the September S**t Show. After showing off the Back-to-School pride, stay off social media. Aside from liking pictures of other people’s kids’ first day pics, don’t get caught up in those who show off their over-preparedness. These moments are to be cherished and appreciated by everyone.
How can you take care of yourself during the September S**t Show?
Hi, Beautiful Readers! Thank you for reading this! I'm Dr. Joanne Broder, Media Psychologist, Author, and Fellow of the American Psychological Association. Please consider me to help you write your memoir, blogs, speeches, e-books, as well as coach you on your dissertation or thesis. Click here so we can connect!