Every August, it starts making the rounds again.
The Staples commercial. You know the one—the parents happily pushing a shopping cart through the aisles while "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" plays in the background, and the kids trail behind looking considerably less enthusiastic.
It's funny because there's a little bit of truth in it.
After two months of juggling camps, vacations, childcare, grocery bills that somehow doubled, endless snack requests, and hearing "I'm bored" approximately 7,436 times, the thought of a little routine returning can feel... refreshing. And then, almost immediately, the guilt creeps in.
"Should I be happier that summer is ending?"
"Am I a bad parent for looking forward to school starting?"
The answer is no.
Back-to-School Brings Mixed Emotions
One of the biggest misconceptions about parenting is that you're supposed to feel one emotion at a time. In reality, parenting is wonderfully—and sometimes frustratingly—dialectical.
You can love spending time with your children and be exhausted. You can miss the slower pace of summer and be excited for routine. You can feel proud your child is growing up and miss the little version of them who needed you for everything.
Those feelings don't cancel each other out. They simply mean you're human.
Summer Is Wonderful... and It's Also a Lot
Summer often looks magical on social media. Beach days, ice cream, camping trips, family adventures, and matching vacation photos where everyone is somehow smiling at the exact same moment.
What social media doesn't always show are the logistics behind those pictures.
Who's watching the kids next Tuesday?
How are we paying for another week of camp?
Why is everyone hungry again?
Did someone really leave a wet towel on the couch... again?
Summer can be full of wonderful memories, but it can also be emotionally, physically, and financially demanding. By the time September rolls around, many parents feel like they've been "on duty" for months without much opportunity to recharge.
Then Everything Changes Overnight
Just when you've adjusted to one routine, it's time for another.
Lunches need packing. Permission forms need signing. School supplies need replacing. Bedtimes move earlier. Sports, dance, music lessons, and homework all return at once. Somehow every child needs something different, and at least one of those things was apparently due yesterday.
It's enough to make anyone feel overwhelmed.
Back-to-school isn't just a transition for children—it's a major adjustment for parents too.
Why This Time of Year Feels So Stressful
Transitions require our brains to adapt. Every time routines change, our brains have to make more decisions, solve more problems, and manage more uncertainty. That takes energy.
Parents are often carrying far more than they realize. They're coordinating schedules, managing emotions, helping anxious children adjust, returning to busier workloads, and trying to remember everyone's appointments while also answering the age-old question, "What's for dinner?"
It's called the mental load, and while you can't always see it, you can certainly feel it.
Give Yourself Permission to Lower the Bar
September doesn't have to be perfect. The lunches don't need to look like they belong on Pinterest. Dinner doesn't need to be homemade every night, and your child doesn't need to participate in every extracurricular activity available.
Instead of asking, "How do I do it all?" try asking, "What's good enough for this season?"
Children benefit far more from having a regulated parent than a perfectly organized one.
Don't Forget About Yourself
Parents are incredibly good at making sure everyone else is ready for September.
The backpacks are packed. The shoes fit. The forms are signed.
But somewhere along the way, many parents stop asking themselves an equally important question:
"What do I need?"
Maybe it's ten quiet minutes before everyone wakes up. Maybe it's asking your partner to handle bedtime one night a week. Maybe it's saying no to one activity instead of squeezing another commitment into an already full calendar.
Taking care of yourself isn't selfish, it's what helps you continue taking care of everyone else.
It's Okay to Look Forward to Routine
If you've found yourself smiling at that Staples commercial, you're not a bad parent.
You're probably just a tired one.
Looking forward to routine doesn't mean you love your children any less. It simply means you're ready for a little more predictability, a little more structure, and maybe - just maybe, a cup of coffee that's still warm by the time you finish it.
(We know... we're dreaming big.)
You Don't Have to Carry It All Alone
If this back-to-school season feels more overwhelming than exciting, know that you're not the only one feeling that way. Many parents carry an invisible mental load that builds over the summer and peaks in September.
At A Mindful Change, we know that supporting your family starts with supporting you. Whether you're navigating parenting stress, anxiety, burnout, family transitions, or simply feeling like you've lost yourself while taking care of everyone else, we're here to help. Reach out to book an appointment or schedule a free consultation, and together we'll develop practical strategies to reduce overwhelm, navigate the back-to-school transition with more confidence, and create space for your own well-being - because when parents are supported, the whole family benefits.
And if you happen to find yourself humming "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" while buying binders and pencils... your secret is safe with us.