Today marks the start of another school year in many households across the south (including in ours). It still feels too early to be going back to school (August really? What happened to after Labor Day). And, it feels like the summer flew by way too fast. But I guess that’s what happens as you get older. The days are long, but the years are short, as our pastor likes to say.

In preparation for the launch of another school year we did most of the usual things. We balked at the ever expanding list of school supplies provided to us by the girls school. And then of course we frantically went out and purchased everything and more that we needed. We got caught up in the crowds of back to school shoppers looking for new shoes and clothes. And I spent an insane amount of time in the shoe section with my daughter Olivia while she tried to determine which shoes matched her vibe. The fun part about that experience? Spending one on one time with my teenage daughter learning that we have similar styles and preferences. She ended up choosing the exact same pair of shoes that I already own.

We also leaned into a few rituals that have become guiding practices for us through the years. The first is we sat around our whiteboard as a family and set some intentions for the start of the school year. Nothing complicated, just one thoughtful question: what do we want to be true about ourselves this school year? It’s less of a goal setting question, than a locating question. For me I shared that I wanted to trust the process. On the professional side, I’ve got some big bets in the works and I really want to stay the course to see how it all plays out. I’m betting on me, and I’m curious to see how that all turns out. On the parenting side, our oldest will be starting to look at colleges and prepare for life after high school, and while we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, we also want to be prepared. This is new territory for us as parents so we’re learning as we go.

As everyone else went around and shared, it felt like trusting the process was a shared theme for others intentions. Our two youngest girls, one starting second grade and the other fourth grade are both excited about making new friends and having a good year. Olivia, our eighth grader set concrete goals about a position on the volleyball team and winning her first quest of the year. Everyone’s focused on something, including the process it takes to get there.

That’s where I believe rituals come into play. Rituals are the practices that keep us steady in times of uncertainty. This morning I wrote each of the girls a little note to place in their lunchbags for the first day of school. It’s another ritual of mine since they were young, a reminder of who they are as they go out into this big wide world. It’s easy to get lost sometimes, and that’s ok. Maybe during the day the note will remind them that they’re ok.

Of course with the start of another school year comes all the activities (not thrilled about that!). But, at the end of the day I’m looking forward to sitting down around the table and talking about our day, how things went, how we felt, and what we’ve learned about ourselves in the process. And just like that, we’ve found ourselves back at the importance of trusting the process.

For all the parents out there preparing to embark on this journey we call the first day of school, enjoy your day. Take it all in. It’s the start of a beautiful journey to a new year.

SDW3