Many adults take long vacations, or time off in the summer to recharge. Children have a built-in vacation from school. Getting back on track can often present a challenge, but rising to meet it can produce even better results than you had before the break. It is important to look at any reasons you may be having trouble getting back on track. Are there things about school/work that you are avoiding? It may be time to reshuffle and reconsider your work/school routines and do things differently than before. Refine your routines. Remove clutter and unnecessary tasks or delegate them. Add desirable tasks to your routine to give you more to draw you back into your work routine. By giving yourself reasons to want to go back into your routine, you are taking care of yourself.
Enhancing the relationships that you have with coworkers and others will also positively effect your health and increase longevity. Maybe there are ways you can find ways to appreciate and include them in your work that will be good for them and for you.
Children have their own challenges getting back on track. There is more than one possibility that they may have difficulty regrouping for school.
- They may like the routine of having time off and may resist giving it up. This is normal and usually works itself out. It is important for them to have some time off even during a busy school year.
- There may be something troubling them about school. Find out what is wrong and see if you can correct it. If there is a bullying issue, find out about the school’s bullying policy. If there is a difficult class, explore ways to provide academic support through tutoring or peers. Try to solve the issue that is causing the resistance.
- Sometimes, there is more than normal resistance. If your child cannot get to school without making him/herself sick, there may be school phobia. Check to see if there have been any losses or traumatic events in your family or neighborhood recently. These events can shake up a child’s sense of security and cause them to want to stay home to try to prevent future tragedies. If you cannot pinpoint anything that would cause the phobia and talk it through with the child, some short-term counseling might be helpful.