Text I
Blog Talking Teenage: listen, learn and discuss
Sunday, August 7, 2011 at 10:24AM - It is hard to
believe that yet another summer is coming to an end.
Where did all the time go? As I review my “Summer To
Do” list I have to chuckle out loud. Did I even complete
one item on this long list? Gee, I must have been
feeling optimistic when I wrote it.
With only a few weeks left, it is now time to switch
gears. Time to mentally prepare for Fall. It is a time to
focus on transitions.
I must admit that preparing for the transition
presents somewhat of a dilemma. On the one hand
there is the urge to savor every last moment of
summer. On the other hand, the more you mentally
and physically prepare for the Fall, the less chaos and
confusion you face when it finally arrives.
So how can you prepare for the end of one
season and the beginning of another? It is not so easy
but here are some thoughts:
1. Buy school supplies now. You do not want to
be caught in the last minute rush to the office supply
store! It is usually a madhouse. How do I know? I am
not always so good at taking my own advice!
2. If your Fall schedule will include putting on
your chauffeur hat to shuttle your teens from activity
to activity, then try to work out potential carpool
partners now. While you may not be able to work out
the complete schedule, starting to plan now will cut
down on the anxiety often associated with arranging
car-pools once school starts. This is especially true if
you are a working parent.
3. Ask your teens to do a quick wardrobe check.
They should sort out what no longer fits and do an
inventory of shoes and necessary accessories (e.g.
backpacks).
4. If you need to shop try to go during off hours
such as early evening or mid-day during the week.
Once school starts the mall will be mobbed with last
minute shoppers.
5. Create a Fall calendar which details events and
activities. This will give you a visual picture of what
to expect in the upcoming months. Such preparation
will quell the feeling of internal (and external) chaos
that often accompanies the transition from Summer
to Fall.
6. Enjoy the final days of summer! You can truly
relax knowing you are well prepared for the up-coming
transition into Fall.
Available in: <http://www.talkingteenage.com/blog/2011/8/7/switching- -gears-preparing-for-the-transition-from-summer-to.html> Retrieved on: August 20th, 2011.
In the US, where this blog entry was written,
