Week Two of School and the Honeymoon Is Over

The first week back there's a little novelty. New supplies. Catching up with friends. The freshness of it carries some kids through.

Week two is different.

The newness has worn off. The routine is starting to feel real. And for a lot of kids, that's when the resistance kicks in.

What week two usually looks like

Sunday night gets harder. The complaints start. Stomachaches that weren't there before. I don't feel good. Can I stay home.

Monday morning becomes a battle. And some version of that battle repeats every morning for a while.

It doesn't mean the year is going to be hard. It means the adjustment is still happening.

Why this particular week is rough

Week one, kids are in observe-and-survive mode. They're taking everything in and holding it together.

Week two, they've processed enough to know what they're dealing with. If something is hard, that's when they start pushing back against it. The stomachaches and meltdowns aren't made up. They're how the body responds to ongoing stress.

What actually helps right now

Keep the routine tight. Consistent bedtime. Same morning schedule. The more predictable the home is, the more regulated a kid can be when school pulls at them.

Talk about the week ahead on Sunday in a low-key way. Not a pep talk. Just a quick walk through what's coming so nothing catches them off guard.

Notice what's good, not just what's hard. Small wins matter more than parents realize.

If it's more than week-two adjustment

If your child is really struggling and nothing is settling down, getting some support in place now is a lot easier than getting it in October when things have compounded.