This coming week, my daughter Rosalind enters 3rd grade, my daughter Ione (who was born in the thick of the pandemic) starts kindergarten, and my husband Paul starts his 18th year teaching. Of course, my mind is thinking about the transition to the new school year and all that it brings.

Here are some of my hopeful wishes for the school year ahead.

May my children…

Find joyful, supportive, and meaningful connections with their peers and teachers.

Act with kindness, respect, and curiosity.

Learn concepts and ideas that excite them and help form a greater understanding of our world and their place in it.

Wake up and move through our morning routine with ease and willingness.

May I, and all parents,…

Find the balance of supporting our children while also giving them space to figure things out for themselves and grow.

Discover deeper connections to our community.

Not over-schedule our children and give them unstructured time to play, rest, and make their own plans for their time.

And if nothing else, please please please may we all finally stop witnessing this horror show of school shootings.

Wishing a happy new school year to all who celebrate. I hope the transitions are smooth, the sick days are few, and the smiles are big.

Warmly,

Dr. Lizzie