Changes in the New School Year and What Parents Should Be Mindful Of

How are you spending the new school year?
The new year brings a fresh feeling.
The new school year brings a fresh feeling and a new environment.
That is the image I have of it.

When it comes to environmental changes, some years see big changes, while others only have small ones.
Last year, my son became a second grader, and my daughter celebrated her Shichi-Go-San.
The year before that, we moved and my son started elementary school at the same time, so it was quite hectic.
Last year was a year of small changes, while the year before was one of big changes.

So, what about this year?
My daughter, who I have spent every day with for over three years, will be starting kindergarten.
It is a year of big changes for both her and me.
My son is also having his first class reshuffle.
I feel like the tension has been gradually increasing since April began.

Being able to spend the day with a sense of tension can make it feel crisp and fulfilling, but if it goes too far, it can have negative aspects like feeling anxious or tired.

Regarding my daughter, too,
Will she be able to interact well with her friends?
Will she be okay with school lunch and using the restroom?
I have many worries and anxieties.
But those are worries and anxieties that I am holding onto, and my daughter probably doesn't feel the same way.

Going to kindergarten on the bus with her friends.
Sometimes having her favorite noodles for lunch.
Making pizza, digging for potatoes, roasting sweet potatoes, and sports day.
She says she is really looking forward to all of them.
She also says, "I'm feeling nervous too" (a 3-year-old using polite language, surprisingly! haha).
It is what you call a healthy amount of tension.
So, I will keep my worries to myself so that I don't go out of my way to tell her about them and make her carry my anxiety.

You might have felt like I am a mom with a lot of peace of mind.
But that is not the case at all (haha).
When my son started elementary school, I didn't know anyone and had no friends, so I was worried every single day, wondering if he would be okay??
I think my son must have sensed his mother's anxiety.
His anxiety was probably greater than his excitement (I'm sorry).

When you talk to someone about your anxieties and worries, you might find they aren't as big a deal as you thought, or your heart might feel lighter.
Children really watch the atmosphere and the expressions of adults.
If an adult looks anxious, they become anxious too.
To avoid infecting children with anxious feelings, let's vent and lighten our hearts.
We want to be careful not to let our children carry the burden of our own anxieties.

A few more days until the entrance ceremony and the new school term.
Let's nurture the children's excitement as we prepare.