Hello Reader,

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Good afternoon!

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If there's anything constant about life, it is that it is always changing. We are in the midst of an out-of-state move right now, which has made an already busy schedule seem more hectic. How do you manage it all? How do you keep your sanity in the midst of the chaos and clutter of packing? I've compiled a list of tips to help you keep moving forward with calm deliberation even when your routines get upended.
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1. Breathe- Take a moment to pause when you need to. Sip your coffee in the morning. Meditate. Do whatever it is you need to do so that you are able to be calmer and more focused as you start the day. Chaos attracts chaos, so if taking a moment or two for yourself helps to usher calm into your house and into the attitudes of your kids, it is well worth the moments "lost"- you will likely find your efforts to be more effective if you're in a good headspace.
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2. Allow your "curriculum" to take a slightly different direction- It can be difficult to focus on bookwork when there are piles of "to-dos" all around you and lists a mile long running through your head. Moves and other major life events can make focusing hard for everyone, so give yourself permission to take shortcuts as needed. Cut your school day down to a minimum, or forego the bookwork completely for a time and give your children another kind of education instead. Ebooks can be a great resource to utilize as other curriculum is being packed up.
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   Children of all ages can help with life events in some capacity. If you are moving, allow your children to help with packing. Teach them to organize, or to go through their old toys and give away the ones they no longer use. Older kids can walk through the homebuying process with you and learn about the different considerations to make when buying a new home. Let them help make a list of phone calls to make to change medical providers, cancel utilities, move subscriptions, etc. Explain to them how debt and financing works, and the wisdom of being conservative in their spending habits. These are life skills that they will need to know someday, so they may as well become familiar with them now, even on a basic level.
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3. Allow your kids to be a part of the conversation- Moves can cause a lot of anxiety for children, especially if it isn't a move they are wanting to make. Talking them through the reasons for the move on an age-appropriate level can be helpful in alleviating some of the anxiety they feel, and letting them know that they are a part of the process. If possible, allow them to choose one or two activities that they can look forward to when they get there, especially if they are things they may not have been able to do at their previous residence. Giving them things to look forward to can be very helpful in shifting their focus from the things they are losing to the things they are gaining with the change.
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4. Make a list- Create a master list or binder full of paperwork you need to keep track of, people to call, etc. so it is all in one place and easily accessible. If you don't have new medical providers lined up, you can ask for that information to be sent to you, so you can give it to your provider of choice in your new location. As you are packing things into boxes that may or may not be opened right away, make sure that curriculum you are currently using gets put into a place where it can be found and accessed again quickly. That way, you can jump into it again when you feel ready.

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Moving is just one of many life events that can disrupt your family's school routine. Giving yourself quiet time when needed, being flexible with what education looks like, communicating, and planning ahead are some great ways to help streamline the process as much as possible- whatever major life event comes your way.
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Have a wonderful rest of your week!
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Kristy Crandall
COO Little Lions Learn
(480) 382-1488
​www.littlelionslearn.com​
kristycrandall​@littlelionslearn.com​

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