You lovingly lay out the outfit.
Pack the backpack.
Fill the water bottle.
Double-check the lunch.
Your child?
Suddenly remembers they need a poster board, a glue stick, three family photos, and a hamster… by 8:00 tomorrow morning.
Back-to-school nerves don’t always look like nervousness.
Sometimes they look like:
👉 “I don’t want to go.”
👉 “My stomach hurts.”
👉 “I can’t find my shoes!” (They’re on their feet.)
👉 Meltdowns over the wrong color cereal bowl.
The first week of school can make even the bravest kids feel wobbly.
Skip asking, “Are you nervous?”
Try:
✅ “What’s one thing you’re excited about tomorrow?”
✅ “What’s one thing you’re wondering about?”
✅ “If tomorrow feels tricky, what’s something that might help?”
These questions give kids room to talk without assuming they’re worried in the first place.
Superhero Tip: Sometimes the best after-school conversations starts when you’re doing something else, driving home, grabbing a snack, or looking for that shoe that disappeared this morning.
Mom Question: What’s more stressful in your house? The first day of school or finding the missing shoe five minutes before it’s time to leave?
Freebie for Tired Moms: Back-to-school mornings are enough work already. Grab my FREE Back-to-School Superhero Guide + 2 phone cards with practical ideas you can keep right on your phone for those “I don’t want to go!” mornings.