16 Sep 2026
It’s OK To Say founder and CEO Stacey Turner, looks ahead at the challenges of the new academic year…
I hope you all had a lovely summer and created many memories. My daughters and I are grateful for the summer we have had with family and friends with many cherished moments, but just like that, the summer holidays are turning into familiar routines.
The alarm clocks are ringing, the packed lunches are back or school accounts sorted, and somebody, somewhere, has forgotten to tell their parent/guardian that they need something for school tomorrow.
After six weeks of lie-ins, late nights and days where we have absolutely no idea what day of the week it is, September can feel like being thrown straight back into the deep end.
But perhaps we need to stop expecting ourselves to simply switch back on, because the truth is, it takes time to adjust.
It takes time for children to get used to new routines, new teachers, new classrooms and new expectations.
It takes time for teenagers to get their heads around another school year.
And it takes time for parents too.
We can put an enormous amount of pressure on ourselves to have everything organised, everyone settled and the new routine running like clockwork from day one.
But what if we didn’t?
What if we accepted that September might be a little messy?
That there might be tired mornings, forgotten PE kits, tears, arguments, excitement, nerves and the occasional complete meltdown?
What if we simply gave ourselves – and our children – a little more grace?
So, here are my six reminders for getting through the return to school without putting unnecessary pressure on ourselves.
Give it time
We don’t expect a child to walk into a new classroom and immediately feel completely comfortable.
So why do we expect ourselves to instantly adjust to the school run, work, homework, clubs, appointments, dinner, laundry and everything else that comes with September?
The first week doesn’t have to be perfect.
Neither does the second. Everyone will find their rhythm and it’s helpful to trust the journey and ask for support where needed.
Pick your battles
This might be one of my biggest parenting lessons.
As parents/carers, we don’t have to win every battle, but we can learn to navigate the battles.
Some things matter. Safety matters. Kindness matters. Respect matters. Boundaries matter. Organisation and collaboration matter.
But does the bedroom really need to be spotless today?
Is the argument about the hoodie worth ruining everyone’s morning? Does it matter if the shoes aren’t put away immediately?
Sometimes we can just let things go. Pick the things that genuinely matter. Let the little things go. Sometimes preserving the environment and relationship is more important to allow space for what comes from all these new adjustments.
It’s helpful to try and not compare
September can be particularly dangerous territory for comparison.
There will be children with immaculate uniforms, beautifully organised school bags and parents who seem to have purchased every item on the school equipment list weeks ago.
There will be photographs of perfect first days and smiling faces.
But we don’t know what happens behind closed doors.
Your family doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.
Your child doesn’t need to be doing what everyone else’s child is doing.
And you certainly don’t need to be the parent who has everything completely under control. And, it’s OK to be vulnerable.
There is no prize for making September look perfect.
Keep the conversation going
“Have you had a good day?”
“Fine.”
“What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
“Anything interesting happen?”
“No.”
And there goes the conversation.
If you’ve got teenagers, you may recognise this exchange.
But don’t give up. Sometimes the best conversations don’t happen when we sit down and announce that we’re going to have a conversation about feelings.
They happen in the car. Walking the dog. Making dinner.
Watching television. Late at night when they suddenly decide that now is the perfect time to tell you something that apparently couldn’t wait until morning.
Keep the door open.
Let them know you’re there.
And sometimes, don’t ask questions at all and lead the way.
“My day was…I felt…and this happened, pause or add something along the lines of – feel free to tell me about yours…”
Just be there.
Look after yourself too
Parents and carers are often so busy making sure everyone else is okay that we forget to ask ourselves the same question.
Are you tired? Are you overwhelmed? Have you actually had a break? Are you trying to do too much?
We can be very good at telling ourselves that everyone else comes first.
But looking after yourself isn’t selfish.
It is part of looking after the people you love.
You don’t have to be running on empty to prove that you’re a good parent.
Remember that good enough really is good enough
Perhaps this is the biggest one.
We don’t need to get everything right.
We don’t need the perfect morning routine.
We don’t need the perfect packed lunch.
We don’t need to have every school form completed before the first bell rings.
And our children certainly don’t need perfect parents.
They need parents/carers who are there.
Parents who listen.
Parents who sometimes get it wrong, apologise and try again.
Parents who understand that life is messy.
So as we head into another school year, let’s take a breath.
Let’s lower the pressure.
Let’s give ourselves and our children time to adjust.
And let’s remember that we don’t have to have everything figured out just because September has arrived.
One morning at a time.
One day at a time.
And if it takes a few weeks to find our feet, that’s okay too.
Because perhaps the best thing we can give our children – and ourselves – this September isn’t perfection.
It’s a little more patience. A little more grace because awareness and acknowledgement are everything.
And the permission to simply say: “We’re getting there.”
