By Leslie Lindsay

Sending your child back to school–or just sending her there for the first time–is nerve-wrecking.  Will she be okay?  Will she be able to verbalize her thoughts?  Answer the teacher?  Get her basic needs met?  Deep breath.  I know you have concerns.  I have been there myself. 

The best thing you can do as a parent is present a happy, carefree approach to school. Kids pick up on stress and anxiety like ants on a crumb at a picnic…if they feel your anxiety, they will carry it away, too.  Now, that’s not to say that you shouldn’t worry, or you shouldn’t have questions…you do and that’s a good thing.  Writing down a list of your concerns can help, as does talking them over with your spouse/partner, your child’s teacher, a trusted friend, even your child’s SLP may have some insight.  

Worry about the things you can control.  I have been known to worry about things waaay out of my control, like how is she going to get from the bus to her classroom?  But the thing is, I am not there when that happens.  I don’t have to be.  There is a trained and (hopefully) compassionate bus driver behind the wheel and school staff  educated to ease the transition.  It’s what they do for a living.  Plus, you’ve taught your child all of the proper things about safety, strangers, and the like.  She will do just fine.  And really, what good is worrying about it if you can’t change it? 

It may help to make a list of all of the things your child has learned to do independently.  Kids are pretty darn amazing and resilient creatures–going to school is just another event.  And it’s completely “normal” to feel a little sad that your little one is growing up.  Hey–I’m feeling it, too as my youngest heads off to kindergarten Wednesday.  It’s never easy saying good-bye to an end of an era.

On the other hand, you may be thrilled.  And that’s okay, too.  While you may really be looking forward to the day your child is in school, you may not be ready to deal with the quiet lull that resides in your life after the last lunch bag is backed.  Make sure you have something fun to do planned for that first day back.  Maybe it’s a matinee with a mom friend, or a round of golf?  Perhaps you have plans to meet up with someone for coffee, or a trip to your favorite store.  Just do something–something for you! 

To learn more about apraxia, please look to the first-ever comprehensive book for parents on the subject, SPEAKING OF APRAXIA (Woodbine House, 2012)

Be sure to check out these recent REVIEWS of the book on various blogs and websites: 

• Added August 11, 2012, Guest blogger on “Omazing Kids,” hosted by Angela Moorad, CCC-SLP “Apraxia and the Relaxation Connection” http://omazingkidsllc.com/2012/08/11/childhood-apraxia-of-speech-and-the-benefits-of-guided-relaxationyoga-a-guest-blog-post-by-leslie-lindsay/
• Added August 18, 2012 Featured blogger on “Future SLPs” hosted by Jourdan Saunders, CCC-SLP
• Added August 18, 2012 Book Review by Kristin Cummings, CCC-SLP of Simply Speech http://kcummingsslp.blogspot.com/2012/08/book-of-week.html
• Added August 18, 2012 Featured/Guest Blogger on Simply Speech (hosted by Kristin Cummings, CCC-SLP) “Reading and Rhyming with CAS: Green Eggs & Ham” http://kcummingsslp.blogspot.com/2012/08/guest-post-by-leslie-lindsay.html
• Added August 19, 2012 Review of Speaking of Apraxia by Mary Clare Tarpley, host of Mommy Square Blog and “apraxia mom” http://maggieandluke.blogspot.com/2012/08/speaking-of-apraxia.html