The New Age of Transitions

When I was a kid, moving up into middle school wasn't a big deal. Neither was going to high school.

Sure, mom and dad were happy that we hadn't dropped out of school and were presumably on a path towards some kind of happiness.

But, we didn't have a "commencement" or "major life transition" until we graduated high school and it was time to move away to college.

My, how times have changed.

With increases in workload and expectations, moving up to middle school has become a major life event!

It has even trickled down to the elementary school levels in some areas. I never thought the transition from 3rd grade to 4th grade could be so stressful.

This isn't a criticism. Just an observation.

However...

With transitions real or perceived, we must proceed with caution. Lest, our worries and fears take over.

We have had a number of students over the past decade take a break from things like piano to "see how the transition into middle school goes" first. 

Sadly, this quote has joined a number of others that are synonymous with, "We're probably not going to continue."

As public and private schools reopen full time, we are faced with another transition poised to rock our collective lives. With these transitions coming, we have one piece of advice.

Keep it simple.

People do school online. They do school face to face. Schedules change. Workloads change. Things happen. 

It's no reason to cancel the rest of the world until things get easier.

Because, as we know, there is no easier.

It's all about how we frame it in our minds.

Our children need this lesson more than ever. Otherwise, they're taught that it's okay to press pause or stop when life gets challenging.

With schedule changes and a summer of possibilities ahead, stay consistent with the things that count. The things that matter.

The things that will withstand all of life's transitions and give us the real happiness we've always been looking for.