Moms Talk: End of the School Year Transitions

June, truly one of the hardest months of the year for parents and kids. It's that time of year when we, as parents, need to manage our kids excitement (for the end of school), fears (for the end of school) expectations (for what's happening after the end of school) and most importantly, expressing their feelings during this predictably tumultuous time.

It wasn't until my now 12-year-old hit third grade that I immediately recognized the signs and symptoms of the "end of year blues." June has always represented a tough month for him and now, for the whole family – including myself! Each of my kids handles the end of the year transition differently. One gets a bit ornary and moody; one gets sad, whiny and needier; and now the 5-year-old is getting weepy at the thought of going to a new school next fall.  NEXT Fall, that's just it – so far away in their young minds.

So, why are we all talking about the future now? Because no matter how hard we try to take one day at a time, we're all talking about what's in the pipeline. Teachers, friends, family – everyone wants to talk about what grade you'll be in NEXT Fall,  who might be in your class NEXT fall. My kids just want to absorb this year, absorb today – the last day of school.

We don't want our kids to grow so fast, but we're racing against time every day. Not unlike seeing Christmas decorations out in the malls in August. Now we have football sign-ups at the end of April and apparently, I am supposed to have registered my kids for their sports through next December! How can we allow them to live in the moment when we are on to the next thing? No wonder my kids are so stressed. They're sad because time is flying, and they're having fun; no one wants the fun to end.

So, as I approach each child at their respective schools at pick-up today, I will keep our routine the same: Bring them home, give them a snack, talk about their day and go play some ball for a while. I will do all that I can to keep their routine the same – there will be some tears and fears tomorrow, no doubt. I will tee them up for the next day, and I will ease them slowly into summer, allowing them to move on in their minds, hoping to make their transition seamless. After all, it will be fall before we know it.

Now, what will you do?