First Week of School High

The first week of school feels electric.The kids look great in their fresh clothes, their backpacks are still clean, and parents are full of energy. We’re taking pictures, posting them online, packing nice lunches, and feeling ready for the year ahead. It’s a fresh start for everyone.

But if we’re honest, that high doesn’t last long. By week two or three, mornings get harder, homework starts piling up, and that back-to-school excitement starts to fade—for both parents and kids.

The new routine turns into just “the routine.”

We all start to wonder why did the excitement leave so quickly....

Maybe it’s just human nature.Once the newness wears off, we settle into comfort, and the extra effort slips away.

For kids, the fun of seeing friends again can’t completely cover up the fact that school is, well… work.

For parents, the early mornings, drop-offs, and to-do lists start to wear us down too.

We don’t have to let that first-week feeling completely fade. Here are a few small ways to keep the momentum going:

• Keep celebrating small wins. Did they get a good grade, try something new, or just get through a tough week? Acknowledge it.

• Switch up routines. A midweek breakfast treat or a different after-school activity can keep things fresh.

• Stay connected. Ask more than “How was your day?”—find out what made them laugh or what challenged them.

• Model the energy you want to see. If you show excitement and curiosity, they’re more likely to follow your lead.

The truth is, we can’t stay in “first week” mode forever.

It’s exhausting.

But we can keep a spark alive.

The goal isn’t to have perfect mornings or endless energy; it’s to keep showing up, keep encouraging, and remind ourselves that the school year is a marathon, not a sprint.