Back to School
RECIPE
Caprese Chicken
Ingredients:
Chicken thighs or breasts (boneless skinless)
Pesto
Tomato
Mozzarella cheese
Salt and pepper
Fresh basil
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 420
Add salt and pepper to chicken and place on a baking sheet with parchment paper
Spread pesto on each piece of chicken, then add a thin slice of tomato and mozzarella cheese
Bake for 30 minutes or until internal temp reaches 165. Remove from the oven and top with fresh basil
Serve with pesto pasta and enjoy!
RECEIPTS + RECS
Amazon Set: I’ve never had so many people ask about an outfit! I’m not typically a huge Amazon clothing person, but this one is a winner and so comfortable.
Letter Magnet Tiles: So fun to work on phonemic awareness, sight words, or sounds!
Kids Headlamp: This is my friend’s signature birthday gift: she gets everyone’s kids these fun headlamps! Such a hit for kids ages 2-6, they all love them.
Local Restaurant: Janarty’s Ice Cream. All I can say is WOW. A sweet Summit mom introduced me to this little gem and I can’t stop thinking about it. The owners are darling and the ice cream is the best I’ve had in TN. Plus homemade waffle cones! Another amazing new spot is Bibles and Coffee. Incredibly kind owners, adorable vibe, and there’s a play area for kids!
REFLECTIONS
I’m still somewhat of a novice with school-aged kids with my oldest going into first grade, but I wanted to share some encouragement and tips for the easiest possible transition into school based on what we learned last year:
Have a hearty snack ready at pickup/immediately when getting home.
Serve only comfort meals/your child’s favorites for dinner the first week.
Don’t ask a lot of questions at pickup or right off the bus. Kids spend all day being “on” and working so hard at school, so they’ll often answer with “I don’t remember” or “nothing” right when getting home. A great time to ask more questions is while tucking them in at night. This is always when I hear the most detail about the day.
If your child is doing amazing at school but having a hard time at home, it is normal, and it will get better.
And for the moms, if you are nervous, excited, emotional, or all of the above about school starting, I am giving you the biggest hug. Middle Tennessee has a huge homeschool community, which is truly amazing. Yet, I know many moms feel guilty if they have to work or if they want to work and their children go to school outside the home.
The internet will tell you there’s something wrong with every decision, and at the end of the day, you know what’s best for your family. Just be encouraged that no matter your situation, your child will likely learn in new amazing ways you never imagined! They will make wonderful friends and gain confidence. They will try things and fail and try again. And what matters most is they know they are loved by you no matter what! Praying for my sweet Summit Speech kids and every other child getting ready to start school, and also for you, moms. We’ve got this!
