It’s officially back-to-school time and our very excited four-year-old is counting down the days until she starts! We’re sharing our chart here. Simply download and print. Use the black and white setting on your printer to save ink, and be sure and check the “fit to page” size option. Color in a box a day, add a sticker, or cross them off as each day passes and we get closer to the big day!

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After printing the chart out, I blacked out the squares that we didn’t need with a marker since we didn’t end up needing all 30 boxes.

I also counted out the days and wrote “Meet Your Teacher” on the day that we have our open house.

This has been a big help for Viv to visually see how many days (or sleeps) are left until she starts school. I find this chart helpful because it helps prepare her mentally so it doesn’t feel like such a big surprise when we are just a few days away from starting school.

This is going to be a big change for her since it’s her first year of official school, complete with drop-off and pick-up, and being on her own for the school day without myself or her dad there or just down the hall waiting for her.

Every kid is different, but mine does best when she has time to mentally prepare for big changes. This also allows her to ask questions and we can address any anxiety or nervousness that she might be feeling to help her feel a little more prepared on day one.

It’s also my first year to drop her off at school. She’s my one and only and I have all kinds of big feelings about it too.

And while I don’t think a countdown chart will ease my nerves, I am certainly grateful for my community and other mom-friends who are in it with me or have gone through it already and can relate.

It seems like these big milestones are coming fast and each one doesn’t seem any easier than the last. I just want you to know that if you’re going through it too, I know how you feel. It’s not easy and it’s a lot of emotions for them and for us.

Take a breath though. You’ve got this. We’ve got this. And we have each other.

Until next time,