1 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: Hi. 2 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 2: I'm Laura Vanderkamp. I'm a mother of five, an author, journalist, 3 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 2: and speaker. 4 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:19,120 Speaker 3: And I'm Sarah Hart Hunger, a mother of three, practicing physician, writer, 5 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:22,280 Speaker 3: and course creator. We are two working parents who love 6 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 3: our careers and our families. 7 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 2: Welcome to best of both worlds. Here we talk about 8 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 2: how real women manage work, family, and time for fun. 9 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 2: From figuring out childcare to mapping out long. 10 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:34,200 Speaker 1: Term career goals. 11 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 2: We want you to get the most out of life. 12 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:43,920 Speaker 1: Welcome to best of both worlds. This is Laura. 13 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:48,360 Speaker 2: This episode is airing in late August of twenty twenty five, 14 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:51,480 Speaker 2: and this is going to be our annual. 15 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: Back to school episode. 16 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 2: So we started this show in August of twenty seventeen. 17 00:00:57,640 --> 00:00:59,080 Speaker 2: I don't know if we had an official back to 18 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 2: school episode then we certainly talked about the topic within 19 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 2: the first few weeks. So that means we've been covering 20 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 2: back to school for nine years. This is our ninth 21 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 2: time covering this and eight years of the show our 22 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 2: ninth time covering the topic. 23 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:16,279 Speaker 1: So it's been a lot. 24 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 4: Of back to school though I feel like it's different 25 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 4: every time. 26 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:22,959 Speaker 2: Well, I guess because the kids are in different ages 27 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 2: there are different grades, different schools, different routines, all that stuff. So, Sarah, 28 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 2: why don't you give us a quick rundown. I mean, 29 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 2: obviously things are different than twenty seventeen, but where are 30 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 2: your children grade wise, school wise all that now? 31 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, so we have a second grader who is at 32 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 3: the same Montessori school where she's been attending since she 33 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 3: was two, And then Cameron is switching schools. He's going 34 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 3: to the school where Annabel goes to and he's in 35 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 3: sixth grade, which is in the middle school, and Annabel 36 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 3: is just rising a year into. 37 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 4: The eighth grade. 38 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 3: So really the girls have a fairly anti climactic transition, 39 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 3: and Cameron has a very big year this year. 40 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 4: What about you, guys. 41 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, so I have a kindergartener this well, when this airs, 42 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 2: people have not started yet, but the first week of September, 43 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 2: I will have a kindergartener who will be at our 44 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 2: local elementary school. 45 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:16,640 Speaker 1: I will have a fifth grader and an eighth grader 46 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:17,400 Speaker 1: who will be. 47 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,959 Speaker 2: At our local middle school because our middle schools here 48 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 2: now run from fifth to eighth grade. I will have 49 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:26,959 Speaker 2: a tenth grader at the high school, and I will 50 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 2: have a college freshman. So as this is airing, we 51 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 2: are probably in the process of traveling up to Boston 52 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:40,640 Speaker 2: to drop him off. We have a very short move 53 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 2: in window. He's in a high rise, so there's the 54 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:48,240 Speaker 2: elevator issues. It's also in central you know, it's in Boston, 55 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 2: so there's not exactly a huge parking lot outside the 56 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 2: building where you can park and move your stuff in. 57 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 2: So we have a narrow window in which to get 58 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 2: hell of his stuff in, so we have to kind 59 00:02:57,040 --> 00:02:59,679 Speaker 2: of time the travel around that. 60 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 1: But yeah, it's the year of big transitions in that way. 61 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 4: Yeah, you have three out. 62 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 3: Of five, Like entering a new level and then entering 63 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:10,080 Speaker 3: kindergarten and entering college is like extra extra, big extra. 64 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, both big steps in their own very different. But 65 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 2: it's been interesting to see, like the start of college, 66 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 2: what's involved. We did orientation and July I went up 67 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 2: to Boston with Jasper and I stayed in a hotel nearby. 68 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 2: He got to stay in the dorms for a night 69 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 2: and got tour the campus see all the stuff that 70 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 2: was going on there. 71 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:31,240 Speaker 1: So that was cool. 72 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 2: He's chosen all his classes, met with his advisor. I 73 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 2: paid a tuition bill that was that was exciting. You 74 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 2: set up these five twenty nine years ago, and all 75 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 2: of a sudden, you're like, and now we first make 76 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 2: our transfer out of it, it's going to start going. 77 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 1: Down instead of going down. So but that is what 78 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 1: is there for. So yay. 79 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 2: I will be back up in late October for parents weekend, 80 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 2: so I'll get to check on him then. This is 81 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 2: definitely the longest I will gone without seeing him in person. 82 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 2: And Michael does work in Boston some days, so maybe 83 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 2: he'll get to see him. I don't know if they'll 84 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 2: coordinate that to the two of them. Maybe they will, 85 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 2: maybe they won't. Guess it depends if I need to 86 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:17,479 Speaker 2: get anything to desper or not. But yeah, yeah, that's 87 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 2: so exciting. 88 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:20,720 Speaker 3: I feel like when back in the Stone Ages when 89 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 3: we went to college, orientation was not like a separate thing, 90 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 3: but now it seems like it almost always is. 91 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:27,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, I. 92 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 2: Think different places do it differently, but it is kind 93 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 2: of nice to have it enough ahead of time that 94 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:36,599 Speaker 2: they can just start for real when they start. And 95 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 2: they also were able to do multiple orientations over the summer, 96 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:44,600 Speaker 2: so it was smaller. It wasn't just everybody there at 97 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 2: the same time. So I think that was an upside 98 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 2: to it as well. But I mean, you know, on 99 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:53,279 Speaker 2: some level, it's just a huge transition, and I hope 100 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 2: it goes well. 101 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:55,480 Speaker 1: I guess that's all. 102 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:57,280 Speaker 4: I can say. He seems ready, Oh. 103 00:04:57,279 --> 00:04:59,159 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think so. I think he's going to do great. 104 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 2: I'm I'm not too worried about that part. But what 105 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 2: makes them back to school time momentus? So we were 106 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:09,720 Speaker 2: pondering this, like why have we covered this nine times now? 107 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 2: Especially in family life and working parent family life, is 108 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 2: that you're probably going to wind up with changed daily 109 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 2: and weekly routines. And that might be because the kid 110 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 2: is going to a different school, starting a different grade. 111 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 2: If the middle school started at a certain time, but 112 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 2: the high school starts at a different time, where the 113 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 2: buses come at a different time, where you shift schools, 114 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 2: or you had one kid in school now you have 115 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:35,160 Speaker 2: two kids in school, or whatever it is, and they 116 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:37,919 Speaker 2: start a different activity. Somebody decides to do cross country 117 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:41,720 Speaker 2: this year but they didn't last year. Everything changes about 118 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:44,720 Speaker 2: your daily and weekly schedule, and we spend a lot 119 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 2: of time thinking about our daily and weekly schedule. So 120 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 2: this exterior forced change is a momentous moment you know 121 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:56,240 Speaker 2: that's a silly way momentous moment, yes, of course, but 122 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 2: it I. 123 00:05:57,839 --> 00:05:58,559 Speaker 1: Get what I'm saying. 124 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean I always talk about doing like a 125 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:05,600 Speaker 3: ideal week exercise every season, but in reality, the only 126 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 3: two seasons where you like have to do it or 127 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 3: I think it's so incredibly important are the back to 128 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 3: school season and the summer season, because really those are 129 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 3: the two where you're just if you have kids that 130 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 3: are in those school age years, you're just everything's going 131 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:23,159 Speaker 3: to change from your wake up time to the evening schedules, 132 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 3: et cetera. And if your kids are anything like mine, 133 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 3: they're involved in some year round activities where like you 134 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 3: kind of find out the dates and times in August 135 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 3: and like that's going to set your template until May, 136 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 3: which is a long time. 137 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, And it can feel slightly chaotic at the beginning, 138 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 2: when you're not sure exactly where everything is going to go, 139 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 2: or you're trying to sign up for I don't know, 140 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:49,279 Speaker 2: the swim lessons that don't conflict with gymnastics some night 141 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 2: or whatever you have to figure out. But it's also 142 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:55,599 Speaker 2: an opportunity and I think that's one of the reasons 143 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 2: we get kind of excited about this fresh start because 144 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 2: as you change your daily routines and your weekly routines, 145 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 2: it gives you an opportunity to introduce new things or 146 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 2: to change things that might have been problematic, right, Sarah. 147 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 4: Yes, it's like, Okay, this was something that bothered us 148 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 4: all last year. How can we do it differently? 149 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 3: And we'll give some examples as we talk about various 150 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 3: routines later in the episode. 151 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, so we are definitely going to have 152 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 2: some schedule shifts. I mean I haven't decided all of 153 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 2: them yet, and in conjunction with other family members and 154 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 2: with our child care schedule and all that. But just 155 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 2: as an example, when Alex was in elementary school for 156 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 2: his fourth grade year, last year, school started at nine 157 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 2: to ten, so this meant he did not really have 158 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 2: to get out of bed, tell about eight twenty that 159 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 2: they got in the car at like eight forty five, 160 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 2: eight fifty to go to school be there by nine ten, 161 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 2: So that's kind of a late morning start eight twenty. 162 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 2: Contrast this with this year, where the middle school starts 163 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 2: bright and early at eight am, which means that the 164 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 2: days he is taking the bus, if it's anything like 165 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 2: last year, the bus comes at seven nineteen am, which means. 166 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 4: You have to wake up. 167 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 2: Even if he is very quick at getting ready, he 168 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 2: would have to be up at about six forty five am, 169 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 2: so that is a different time. 170 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: Six forty five is a different time. 171 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 2: Than eight twenty, so that it just changes what time 172 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 2: he can comfortably go to bed the night before. It 173 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:38,080 Speaker 2: changes in the morning with the adults, like how we're 174 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 2: getting him out the door. And then on the high 175 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:45,839 Speaker 2: school front, last year I had a driver who had 176 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 2: a parking spot right, so that made getting the fifteen 177 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 2: year old to school quite easy because he just went 178 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 2: with his older brother, Like the two of them got 179 00:08:57,160 --> 00:09:00,040 Speaker 2: in the car together every morning. And I don't I 180 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:02,360 Speaker 2: don't believe that they actually spoke with each other all 181 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:04,960 Speaker 2: that much, but I do they were going off together 182 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:06,840 Speaker 2: and this was really not my business. But now we 183 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 2: don't have that because the driver will be gone and 184 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 2: so Sam has to get to school some other way, 185 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 2: which will be I'm sure a combination of bus and 186 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:19,440 Speaker 2: our driving him or friends picking him up or. 187 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:19,960 Speaker 1: Whatever it is. 188 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 4: But it's hill turn sixteen during the school year, though. 189 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:27,679 Speaker 2: He will oh, but the problem is, and I would 190 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 2: love if he could get his driver's license. We're planning 191 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:33,200 Speaker 2: and getting his permit on his birthday in September. He 192 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:35,719 Speaker 2: will turn then you need it six months in Pennsylvania, 193 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:38,440 Speaker 2: so he could get his driver's license in March, and 194 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:41,440 Speaker 2: in my ideal world, he would start driving himself to 195 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:46,559 Speaker 2: and from school in March. Unfortunately, the parking situation is 196 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:49,680 Speaker 2: a bit grim, and you cannot get a parking spot 197 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:52,319 Speaker 2: until about the last month of your junior year when 198 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 2: the seniors have left, and then there is no street 199 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 2: parking nearby. As I've complained about in the past on 200 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:01,440 Speaker 2: this podcast, all the neighborhood around the high school have 201 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:04,240 Speaker 2: forgote their own on street parking privileges to make sure 202 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:06,199 Speaker 2: that no high school or ever parks in front of 203 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 2: their house. 204 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:10,079 Speaker 4: So sad, it is so sad. 205 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 1: It is so sad, but that is what it is. 206 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:15,360 Speaker 2: And so unless we figure out some other place he 207 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 2: can park, he can't drive himself until his senior year, 208 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 2: which means he can't drive any other kids either, because 209 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 2: then Ruth will be starting high school the next year. 210 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 2: So yeah, he will be a junior and she will 211 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:26,080 Speaker 2: be a freshman and they still will not be able 212 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:26,800 Speaker 2: to drive together. 213 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, I know you got a while, You've got a while, 214 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:32,439 Speaker 3: and there has to be something slightly more painful about 215 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:34,840 Speaker 3: having had a driver and then losing it. Losing because 216 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:36,240 Speaker 3: of course I'm going through in my head and I'm like, 217 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 3: well that won't actually it will happen to me when 218 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:41,679 Speaker 3: Cameron goes to college, but it will not happen to 219 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 3: me when Annebell goes to college. If everyone gets their 220 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 3: license sometimes Yeah. 221 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, so like you're gonna have to change your schedule. 222 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 2: I mean, Sarah, you're not. You don't have any major well, 223 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:55,720 Speaker 2: because Cameron will just go with Annabel, right, yeah. 224 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 3: Correct, All the drop off morning situation is kind of 225 00:10:57,760 --> 00:10:59,560 Speaker 3: like the same, with the exception of like I don't 226 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:01,920 Speaker 3: have as much much of a convoluted drop off situation 227 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 3: at the Montessori School, which is fantastic because it's not 228 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:05,680 Speaker 3: any fun. 229 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 1: Yeah. 230 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 2: Well, we're going to take a quick ad break and 231 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 2: then we'll be starting come back talking about the different 232 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:13,440 Speaker 2: places to look at in back to school routines and 233 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 2: what you might. 234 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 4: Decide to do. 235 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 2: Well, we are back with sort of our ninth discussion 236 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:33,880 Speaker 2: of the back to school transition. So one thing that 237 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 2: obviously the morning we've already been talking about the mornings 238 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 2: and all that, But Sarah, what is something you are 239 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 2: going to change this year about your morning routine? 240 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, we talk about dividing and conquering and we just 241 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:46,200 Speaker 3: don't do it. 242 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:49,079 Speaker 1: And I think we're what do we mean by this? 243 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 3: Like if one parent is driving the kids, my philosophy 244 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:55,600 Speaker 3: is like the other parents should be able to do 245 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 3: whatever they want because our kids just don't need that 246 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 3: much hay hands on wrangling. I mean, the only things 247 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 3: that like Genevieve needs help doing her hair and it's 248 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:09,720 Speaker 3: not always Josh's forte, but worst case, Annibal is better 249 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 3: than me at doing her hair at this point, So 250 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:14,520 Speaker 3: like it doesn't need to be a two parent job, 251 00:12:14,559 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 3: which is great, Like Josh can go running while I'm 252 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 3: doing it, or I can be at pilates while he's 253 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:21,560 Speaker 3: doing it or whatever. And I just think we need 254 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:24,319 Speaker 3: to talk about that and the kids have to understand that. 255 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 3: Like I do think there's a certain amount of like, oh, well, 256 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:29,920 Speaker 3: since both parents are here, I know that I could 257 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:31,440 Speaker 3: just stay in my room until I get screamed up. 258 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 3: But like if they know they're not done against, no 259 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,280 Speaker 3: one's going to be available to poke and prod them 260 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:38,880 Speaker 3: out of bed and like get their cereal out. They 261 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 3: could take a little bit more ownership of that process. 262 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:44,560 Speaker 3: And when I'm on when I'm the driving parent, I 263 00:12:44,559 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 3: don't line like really kind of running the show on 264 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:49,760 Speaker 3: those mornings. So I just I think we need to 265 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:52,199 Speaker 3: do a better dividing conquer job. 266 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 2: Okay, yeah, I'm still trying to sort this out in 267 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 2: my mind. I would probably like to minimize the number 268 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:03,680 Speaker 2: of times that Alex takes the bus for various reasons. 269 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 2: But Ruth actually likes taking the bus. She's got friends 270 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:12,679 Speaker 2: on it, and so we'll sort of sort that out potentially. 271 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 2: So a lot of mornings last year, Michael wound up 272 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 2: driving Ruth because that way we all didn't have to 273 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:21,080 Speaker 2: get up as early as we would have to if 274 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:24,680 Speaker 2: she was on the bus. So if that would happen, 275 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,200 Speaker 2: we would get them up at seven, He would drive 276 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:30,960 Speaker 2: them around seven thirty. Our nanny would come at seven 277 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 2: thirty three days a week, as she did last year. 278 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:37,520 Speaker 2: Probably Sam will just take the bus. But I mean, 279 00:13:37,559 --> 00:13:40,680 Speaker 2: the reason for the seven thirty start, even though Henry 280 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:42,640 Speaker 2: doesn't start school till nine ten, I mean it just 281 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:45,240 Speaker 2: I want the mornings. I don't want to start my day. 282 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 2: I don't want to start my work day at nine thirty, Like, 283 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 2: that's just. 284 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:51,439 Speaker 1: That's really late. It's really late. It's really late. 285 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 2: Yes, I have control over my hours, but I mean 286 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 2: it's like seven thirty to nine thirty is gold time 287 00:13:59,280 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 2: for me in terms terms of concentration. So that is 288 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 2: the current plan, and then I do a lot of 289 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:10,280 Speaker 2: driving on Wednesday and Friday, although I have a backup 290 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:13,800 Speaker 2: option that our house manager works Wednesdays and Fridays and 291 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:17,959 Speaker 2: she can come earlier if she needed to, if I 292 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 2: needed to help on those mornings. 293 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 3: Because I can imagine that even with childcare, by the 294 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:26,359 Speaker 3: time everyone starts filing back into the house in the afternoon, 295 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 3: it might be a little bit harder to concentrate. At 296 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 3: least I certainly find that to be the case. If 297 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:33,800 Speaker 3: I need to concentrate, I would actually rather like go 298 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 3: to Starbucks or something like that. 299 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 4: So if you're not. 300 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:39,760 Speaker 3: Getting going until nine thirty and people are starting to 301 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 3: clump in at three, like you're I'm in trouble. 302 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:43,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, you got to protect your time to 303 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 2: work at least to some degree, which brings us to 304 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 2: the after school routine. I mean, because that's the other one, right, 305 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:53,720 Speaker 2: how do people get home? Is their after care? Are 306 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 2: their activities? I mean, this is a challenge for a 307 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:59,000 Speaker 2: lot of people. There's a lot of after school activities 308 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 2: are after school, and not only at the school. But 309 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:05,120 Speaker 2: then if you're working, you can't really drive them around 310 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 2: unless you've organized your hours to stop working at like 311 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:08,480 Speaker 2: three o'clock. 312 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, we have a lot of challenges here. And by 313 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 3: the way, I didn't mention our nanny and our morning 314 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 3: routine because we don't have her come in early. We 315 00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 3: would rather have her be available for the evening stuff. 316 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 3: This year's afternoons are honestly like the most complicated that 317 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:27,640 Speaker 3: we've had, perhaps because we are kind of planning on 318 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:30,320 Speaker 3: Cameron doing some school sports and a lot of them 319 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 3: are like four to five thirty practices at school, which 320 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:37,760 Speaker 3: sounds really nice, except like, well, first of all, I 321 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 3: need to find out what the deal is in terms 322 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 3: of like. 323 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 4: Staying at school, because there's no time. 324 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 3: We live far enough away that you cannot pick him 325 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 3: up and then drop him off again at four like 326 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 3: that would be nuts. But then also the girls they 327 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 3: love dance, which is awesome, especially Annabelle, and between that 328 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:54,400 Speaker 3: and gymnastics, they have their own sessions to start on 329 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 3: the entire other side of town, usually somewhere between four and. 330 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 4: Five fifteen, So it's like it's complex. 331 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:06,360 Speaker 3: And one downside of private school is you are less 332 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 3: likely to find carpoolers in your neighborhood. Because I love 333 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 3: the school we go to, and it's not actually that far, 334 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 3: but it draws people from every direction, and so she's 335 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 3: got friends that live in like the total opposite direction, 336 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:21,600 Speaker 3: like almost on the beach, that it could be an 337 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:24,520 Speaker 3: hour from our house, and the chances of having somebody 338 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:26,520 Speaker 3: I think there's like one girl at her gymnastics gym 339 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:29,160 Speaker 3: that goes to her school, but not like a large contingent, 340 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 3: so it's a little bit trickier to find carpool stuff. 341 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:35,680 Speaker 3: I think at the end it'll be okay, because I'll 342 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 3: just end up grabbing a kid on like I can 343 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 3: grab Cameron on my way home from work. The school 344 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 3: is fairly on my way home, and if he's done 345 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 3: at like five point thirty, that timing would work out. 346 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 3: But this is actually logistically the most like I'm not 347 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:49,480 Speaker 3: sure exactly how this is going to work. 348 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 4: That I've been going in. 349 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:52,920 Speaker 3: By the time it's airs, we've already figured it out 350 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:56,560 Speaker 3: because school have started like two weeks prior. 351 00:16:57,120 --> 00:16:59,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean my goal is to have a schedule 352 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 2: that only requires there's one driver, but that is just 353 00:17:04,040 --> 00:17:07,680 Speaker 2: not realistic. It's gonna be two with the problem is 354 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:10,720 Speaker 2: then you don't always have two people there. But then 355 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 2: we're just gonna have to sort that out. I mean, 356 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:15,160 Speaker 2: this is good news of public school as there are buses. 357 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:19,880 Speaker 2: The activity bus is a huge help for after school 358 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 2: activities for both the middle and high school, and so 359 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:23,000 Speaker 2: that is an option. 360 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 1: Too that helps with the logistics quite a bit. How 361 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 1: do you guys handle homework? 362 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:33,120 Speaker 2: Like that's another routine like figuring out when people do 363 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 2: their school work and things like that. 364 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:38,680 Speaker 3: Well, Annamo made a list of like her activities next 365 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:40,760 Speaker 3: year of which she's doing again. I think she has 366 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:44,200 Speaker 3: something every single night, including Friday night and then like 367 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:45,719 Speaker 3: three hours of gymnastics on Saturday. 368 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:47,960 Speaker 4: I'm like, remember homework, like that has to fit. 369 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:50,240 Speaker 3: In there somewhere, and she's like, well, dance doesn't start 370 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:52,040 Speaker 3: until seven or eight on these days, so I'll do 371 00:17:52,080 --> 00:17:54,320 Speaker 3: it beforehand. So I mean she kind of has it unlock, 372 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 3: she has it figured out. She does have a study 373 00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:58,959 Speaker 3: hall and is able to get some stuff done there. 374 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 3: I have been pretty darn hands off on homework for 375 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:05,920 Speaker 3: a long time. With Cameron starting middle school, I want 376 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:07,720 Speaker 3: to be a little more aware. 377 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:09,480 Speaker 4: Of what's going on, I guess, I'll say. 378 00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 3: And Genevieve as well, as her load has is starting 379 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:15,040 Speaker 3: to I mean, she's only in second grade, so it's 380 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:18,919 Speaker 3: not like a ton, but there are areas where we 381 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:21,680 Speaker 3: have to make sure we stay at least on grade level, 382 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:23,040 Speaker 3: and that's important. 383 00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 4: So yeah, I mean, I see. 384 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:28,720 Speaker 3: The one wonderful thing is that Cameron's not doing travel soccer, 385 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:32,199 Speaker 3: so we're not going to be like as stressed in 386 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 3: the evening. So I really think most of that homework 387 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:37,440 Speaker 3: time with my oversight will be in that like. 388 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:40,520 Speaker 4: After dinner kind of a window. So Annabelle may still 389 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 4: be at gymnastics I need to pick up, but the 390 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:44,679 Speaker 4: other two should be home, So between like six and 391 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:46,560 Speaker 4: eight that should be enough time. 392 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 3: Yeah. 393 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 1: So yeah, our homework time. 394 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:54,640 Speaker 2: I mean we as family policy last year we would 395 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:59,000 Speaker 2: take away devices at eight thirty. Lights out generally wasn't 396 00:18:59,119 --> 00:19:04,400 Speaker 2: til ten, So then that ninety minutes is a great 397 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:07,920 Speaker 2: time for people to be doing homework who have homework 398 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:08,240 Speaker 2: to do. 399 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:11,439 Speaker 1: Although Ruth tended to do hers right after school. 400 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:13,000 Speaker 2: She would come home and just get it done so 401 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:15,520 Speaker 2: that then she could read or whatever from eight thirty 402 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:18,560 Speaker 2: to ten. We shall see what Alex chooses to do. 403 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:22,399 Speaker 2: They do have a study hall in middle school, and 404 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 2: so probably he will get some of his work done 405 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:27,120 Speaker 2: during that time, but we'll see how much more he has. 406 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:31,320 Speaker 2: I will probably strongly suggest that, I mean, Sam can 407 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:35,119 Speaker 2: manage his own coursework, but I happen to know that 408 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:36,680 Speaker 2: some of the classes he's taking this. 409 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:38,480 Speaker 1: Year are very, very challenging. 410 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:44,359 Speaker 2: Having been through this now before, so strongly suggests that 411 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:49,240 Speaker 2: the windows start earlier, that the homework window begin more 412 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:53,639 Speaker 2: like eight instead of eight thirty. So there's even if 413 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:55,400 Speaker 2: he goes to bed more like ten thirty eleven, he's 414 00:19:55,440 --> 00:19:58,360 Speaker 2: got that to two and a half hours available for it. 415 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:02,080 Speaker 2: Were other things are not as much of a temptation 416 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:03,640 Speaker 2: because they're not options. 417 00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:06,680 Speaker 3: And they're really good about transitioning from like video games 418 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 3: to homework. 419 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:10,199 Speaker 1: Well, I mean I make them. I don't know. I mean, 420 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:12,080 Speaker 1: you get used to whatever you have. 421 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:17,320 Speaker 2: I'm not saying it's a wine free experience. And actually 422 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:20,720 Speaker 2: I prefer video games to just watching YouTube videos. 423 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:22,160 Speaker 1: I mean that's a lot. 424 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:24,640 Speaker 2: I mean, I'd rather somebody be playing a video game 425 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:26,960 Speaker 2: that has a point and like you're pursuing a goal 426 00:20:27,119 --> 00:20:32,600 Speaker 2: versus watching some obnoxious person like doing something ridiculous on YouTube. 427 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:35,719 Speaker 3: So some video games are both because they're like social 428 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 3: media in disguise. 429 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 2: So it's like, I guess, so I don't know, but yeah, 430 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 2: I mean we shall see. I mean we may change 431 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:46,560 Speaker 2: what they said, but generally, I've said, if devices go 432 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:48,800 Speaker 2: at a certain point at night and people aren't home 433 00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:51,360 Speaker 2: from school until a certain point and they have activities, 434 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:54,359 Speaker 2: there's only so much time that is available, and whatever 435 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:56,560 Speaker 2: you choose to do with that time is kind of 436 00:20:56,600 --> 00:20:59,119 Speaker 2: your business, as long as you show up for family 437 00:20:59,160 --> 00:21:01,720 Speaker 2: dinner and do you know require dishwashing on your night 438 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:02,480 Speaker 2: or whatever it is. 439 00:21:03,119 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 4: No, that's great for us. 440 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:07,119 Speaker 3: Like I just find that for whatever reason, once the 441 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:10,159 Speaker 3: video games start getting off is like so torturous that 442 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:12,439 Speaker 3: I don't want to even have the battle. So we 443 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:14,639 Speaker 3: just said, you know what, Monday through Thursday, like no 444 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:16,560 Speaker 3: video games. You can play that on Friday night. You 445 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:18,679 Speaker 3: can enjoy it on the weekend to have fun, but 446 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:20,879 Speaker 3: let's just like not see. 447 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:23,440 Speaker 1: My challenge is making it be a little bit more automatic. 448 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:26,920 Speaker 2: I mean, some children go at eight thirty, I hear 449 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:29,040 Speaker 2: the sound of feet chomping. 450 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:29,480 Speaker 1: Through the hall to go. 451 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:33,000 Speaker 2: It's amazing, put their devices in my room. So it's 452 00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:36,720 Speaker 2: a way other children do not do that and need 453 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:38,639 Speaker 2: to be told to do it. I would like to 454 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:41,679 Speaker 2: make it more automatic for everyone, because the problem is 455 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:44,439 Speaker 2: Henry still needs a lot of handholding to go to sleep, 456 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:49,800 Speaker 2: and so if I am occupied at eight thirty, then 457 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:52,359 Speaker 2: I cannot be telling people to put their devices away. 458 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 2: And so then if I am stuck in the room 459 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:57,400 Speaker 2: with Henry until let's say eight forty five nine, then 460 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:01,760 Speaker 2: sometimes people still have their devices. And sometimes that's true 461 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:03,440 Speaker 2: even if I am not the only adult at home, 462 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:06,480 Speaker 2: which is another thing that needs to be nipped in 463 00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:07,360 Speaker 2: the bud this year. 464 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 4: Delineated, delineated, clearly defined. 465 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:14,520 Speaker 2: Clearly defined, But there are alarms that can go off 466 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:16,400 Speaker 2: on people's phones at that time. 467 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:16,920 Speaker 1: Anyway. 468 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 2: All right, Well we're gonna take one more quick ad 469 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:33,720 Speaker 2: break and then we be back talking back to school routines. Well, 470 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:36,280 Speaker 2: we are back for our ninth annual discussion of the 471 00:22:36,280 --> 00:22:38,800 Speaker 2: back to school season. Sarah, what time do your kids 472 00:22:38,840 --> 00:22:39,440 Speaker 2: have to go to bed? 473 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:40,680 Speaker 4: We'll see. 474 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:46,280 Speaker 3: I'm just kidding, honestly, Genevie've probably I'm gonna say, like 475 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:50,120 Speaker 3: around eight thirty. The other kids I tend to as 476 00:22:50,119 --> 00:22:52,480 Speaker 3: long as I can't use devices, then I leave that 477 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:55,640 Speaker 3: up to them. Knebell sometimes would stay up doing homework 478 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:59,480 Speaker 3: till pass the point that I was asleep, so I 479 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:02,359 Speaker 3: don't have like a strict bedtime for her specifically, And 480 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:04,120 Speaker 3: I go to bed pretty early, so she's not staying 481 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:05,639 Speaker 3: up till one in the morning or something like that, 482 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:10,400 Speaker 3: but maybe till ten thirty or something like that. And yeah, 483 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:12,760 Speaker 3: so Jennevy's really the only one with a specific bedtime. 484 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:14,959 Speaker 3: I think we're gonna have an all devices off at 485 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:18,560 Speaker 3: eight rules, so that makes staying up fairly self limited. 486 00:23:18,640 --> 00:23:20,199 Speaker 3: If they have homework to do, they'll do it, but 487 00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 3: I don't see. If they want to read, then fine, 488 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:25,240 Speaker 3: read until you're tired. I think that will be self 489 00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:27,000 Speaker 3: limited because their alarm is going to go off in 490 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:28,000 Speaker 3: the morning and then the next. 491 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:30,760 Speaker 4: Night they will be tired. Yeah, a lot of days, 492 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:33,520 Speaker 4: Annabel's not going to be home until nine, honestly. 493 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:36,440 Speaker 2: But you guys were pretty good about getting the transition 494 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:40,560 Speaker 2: from end of last activity to the bedtime. 495 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:44,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, that was at a necessity last year because Cameron 496 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:46,199 Speaker 3: kind of needed to go to bed and his soccer 497 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:46,960 Speaker 3: ended so late. 498 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:47,639 Speaker 4: But we won't have that. 499 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 1: We won't have that this year. 500 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 4: Yeah. 501 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:51,840 Speaker 2: Well, you can also figure out sort of in the 502 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:55,280 Speaker 2: going back to school and getting some of the excitement 503 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:57,560 Speaker 2: about it, in the fresh start energy, it might be 504 00:23:57,640 --> 00:24:00,800 Speaker 2: an opportunity to do a little psychological to school prep 505 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:03,240 Speaker 2: with the kids to chat about their goals for the year. 506 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:06,119 Speaker 1: What are they excited about? What are they nervous about? 507 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:09,920 Speaker 2: Ask them when they are looking back on the year 508 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:12,359 Speaker 2: in May or June, whenever you get out of school, 509 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:14,840 Speaker 2: what would they like to have had happen over the 510 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:16,600 Speaker 2: course of the year, To get them thinking a little 511 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:17,479 Speaker 2: forward on that. 512 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:18,960 Speaker 1: Obviously some kids are a lot. 513 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 2: More introspective than others, but it might be a good conversation, 514 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:24,040 Speaker 2: or you can ask how can I support you in 515 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:25,040 Speaker 2: your goals? 516 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:26,320 Speaker 4: Yeah? I love that. 517 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:27,840 Speaker 3: We always do that end of the year thing at 518 00:24:27,880 --> 00:24:31,200 Speaker 3: melting Pot. So I'm gonna be like picture is at melting. 519 00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:34,800 Speaker 2: Pot six, Yes exactly. 520 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 3: We're going around the table with the our biggest accomplishments. 521 00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:38,120 Speaker 3: What do you want to be most excited? I feel 522 00:24:38,119 --> 00:24:39,560 Speaker 3: like they're going to get that. 523 00:24:39,560 --> 00:24:40,000 Speaker 4: That's great. 524 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:42,080 Speaker 3: We haven't done this at the beginning of the school year. Really, 525 00:24:42,119 --> 00:24:43,880 Speaker 3: we tend to do more of a reflection at the end. 526 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:45,879 Speaker 4: But I'm going to do it this year. I like that. 527 00:24:45,960 --> 00:24:46,320 Speaker 3: I love it. 528 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:48,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, we'll see if I can get my kids to 529 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:52,120 Speaker 2: have that conversation with me. And then, of course, what 530 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:55,360 Speaker 2: would be back to school episode without a discussion of 531 00:24:55,600 --> 00:25:01,399 Speaker 2: school supplies. So Michael and Jasper actually went to to 532 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:04,080 Speaker 2: Target and to Ikea yesterday and got a lot of 533 00:25:04,119 --> 00:25:10,280 Speaker 2: dorm associated stuff. So he's I guess got most of 534 00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:12,800 Speaker 2: the things on the list, which is great. His roommate 535 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:15,360 Speaker 2: is renting the fridge and microwave combo and I guess 536 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:18,960 Speaker 2: we're just kicking in money for that. But this the 537 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:21,320 Speaker 2: rest will take a trip to Target the last week 538 00:25:21,359 --> 00:25:23,360 Speaker 2: of before school or something like that. 539 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:27,120 Speaker 4: I forgot about the fridge microwave combos. That's so college. 540 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:32,760 Speaker 3: We went to Office Depot and I also got a 541 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:34,920 Speaker 3: bunch of stuff from Amazon, so a combination of those two. 542 00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:37,919 Speaker 4: I like Office Depot, like I feel like I've got 543 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:38,920 Speaker 4: a target in years past. 544 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:41,760 Speaker 3: They do have some cute things, but Office Depot has 545 00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 3: like everything. And then it kind of occurred to me 546 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:45,879 Speaker 3: that I want them to stay alive because when you 547 00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 3: need a printer cartridge and you need it now, that's 548 00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:49,880 Speaker 3: like the only place to go. So I don't want 549 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:52,199 Speaker 3: them to close. So I supported them, just supported my 550 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:52,960 Speaker 3: back to school hall. 551 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:54,240 Speaker 1: I love it. 552 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:56,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, I want to convince some of the kids 553 00:25:56,920 --> 00:25:59,880 Speaker 2: to do more of a calendar kind of thing. I mean, 554 00:25:59,880 --> 00:26:02,239 Speaker 2: I had an enlightening conversation with a child at one 555 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:04,560 Speaker 2: point to shell be nameless of like, well, how do 556 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:06,359 Speaker 2: you remember when something is going to happen? 557 00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:08,240 Speaker 4: And they probably said you remember? 558 00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:10,560 Speaker 2: Oyeah, well that was about what it came about, you know, 559 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:12,840 Speaker 2: And I get asked with lots of kids like am 560 00:26:12,840 --> 00:26:16,160 Speaker 2: I free at this point? I'm like, okay, I can 561 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:19,000 Speaker 2: answer that for you, but it would also behoove you 562 00:26:19,240 --> 00:26:20,800 Speaker 2: to know this yourself. 563 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:22,880 Speaker 1: And I know it's hard. 564 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:25,000 Speaker 2: I mean, like the teens aren't going to keep track 565 00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:27,720 Speaker 2: of everyone else's schedule and so they don't know that 566 00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 2: like other kid has something, so it makes it actually 567 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:31,960 Speaker 2: harder for me to pick you up at this time. 568 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:35,520 Speaker 2: But I don't know, it's I don't like being the 569 00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:38,400 Speaker 2: sole keeper of the family calendar. 570 00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:40,639 Speaker 4: No, that's fair. I mean, we still use what I 571 00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:41,280 Speaker 4: call the board. 572 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:43,240 Speaker 3: So it's like we have our whiteboard that has Monday 573 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:46,560 Speaker 3: through Sunday and I put everything everyone has for the 574 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:49,199 Speaker 3: upcoming week, and so people can refer to that, and 575 00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:51,879 Speaker 3: our kids do refer to that, like, oh, I can't 576 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:54,080 Speaker 3: ask my friend to do sing Sunday because we're all 577 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:56,440 Speaker 3: going to this thing or we're traveling. 578 00:26:56,119 --> 00:26:56,920 Speaker 4: Or something like that. 579 00:26:57,320 --> 00:26:59,320 Speaker 3: I am waiting for the point where Annabel wants to 580 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:01,159 Speaker 3: be like all on good calendar and then we'd be like, 581 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:03,960 Speaker 3: maybe share that, but she hasn't asked for that yet, 582 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:06,959 Speaker 3: so we'll kind of take it year by year. She 583 00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:09,080 Speaker 3: has a whiteboard she uses in her room to put 584 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 3: like her homework kind of stuff. I mean, all their 585 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:13,480 Speaker 3: stuff's electronic so they can see their assignments, but in 586 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:16,680 Speaker 3: order to visualize like when things are due. And then 587 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:18,919 Speaker 3: I bought Cameron a planner. We'll see if he uses it. 588 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:21,080 Speaker 3: She wants a paper planner as well. So you know, 589 00:27:21,080 --> 00:27:23,359 Speaker 3: they are my kids, so yeah, of course, of course. 590 00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:27,359 Speaker 2: Yeah. So back to school could also be a time 591 00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:31,000 Speaker 2: of renewal for you. It is a fresh start, so 592 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:33,400 Speaker 2: if there's habits that you want to start, you might 593 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:36,119 Speaker 2: be able to convince yourself to build something into a 594 00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:40,440 Speaker 2: morning routine or evening routine for yourself. I guess if 595 00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:42,920 Speaker 2: I'm saying this, I'd better do it. I was pondering 596 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:47,400 Speaker 2: doing a September reset, similar to some of my past challenges. 597 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:50,520 Speaker 2: People have an opportunity to track their time for a week, 598 00:27:51,359 --> 00:27:56,000 Speaker 2: likely that would be September eight through fifteen. Then in 599 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:59,280 Speaker 2: the course of that, I'll have people practice building in 600 00:27:59,359 --> 00:28:02,440 Speaker 2: certain habits. It's like giving yourself a bedtime, or having 601 00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:06,080 Speaker 2: a designated weekly planning time, or thinking about adventures you 602 00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:08,600 Speaker 2: might do on the weekend, or thinking about your evening routine. 603 00:28:09,040 --> 00:28:11,880 Speaker 2: So those are all ideas that we can layer in 604 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:15,080 Speaker 2: after we know where the time is going. So that 605 00:28:15,119 --> 00:28:18,040 Speaker 2: will be a challenge. Look for on my blog or 606 00:28:18,040 --> 00:28:20,600 Speaker 2: my newsletters to sign up for that. 607 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:23,119 Speaker 3: That sounds super fun. I do plan on doing some 608 00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:25,679 Speaker 3: time tracking in August. That tends to be like the 609 00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:27,800 Speaker 3: month when I well, this airs at late August, so 610 00:28:27,840 --> 00:28:30,760 Speaker 3: September would work as well. But as Q four dawns, 611 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:33,400 Speaker 3: my time tracking energy is fairly high, and I guess 612 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:35,399 Speaker 3: I just want to like understand my new routines a 613 00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:37,600 Speaker 3: little bit better. So I think it's a great time 614 00:28:37,640 --> 00:28:39,280 Speaker 3: to do it. So Laura's challenge sounds is like it 615 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:40,760 Speaker 3: would be perfect for many people. 616 00:28:41,120 --> 00:28:44,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, well exciting. I hope everyone is having a wonderful 617 00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:48,120 Speaker 2: back to school season. Whether you've already been in school 618 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:54,120 Speaker 2: for like two weeks now or or maybe weeks away, 619 00:28:54,280 --> 00:28:57,240 Speaker 2: two weeks away, who knows at this point. So all right, 620 00:28:57,280 --> 00:29:01,600 Speaker 2: that brings us to our question. So, Sarah, I guess 621 00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:02,760 Speaker 2: do you want to pose this one? 622 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:07,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, school lunch versus home lunch. Do you have like 623 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:08,600 Speaker 3: bringing lunch? Do you have thoughts? 624 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:13,320 Speaker 2: I do have thoughts, Sarah, not that Well, let me 625 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:16,239 Speaker 2: put it this way. One is not inherently better than 626 00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:16,600 Speaker 2: the other. 627 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:18,800 Speaker 1: I guess that is. My first thought? 628 00:29:19,720 --> 00:29:22,560 Speaker 4: Is this gonna be a rant? There might be at alert? 629 00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:23,280 Speaker 1: There should be a. 630 00:29:23,320 --> 00:29:24,720 Speaker 4: Rant alert music. 631 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:29,200 Speaker 1: Trademark Vanderkian Ahead, okay, go ahead ahead. 632 00:29:29,280 --> 00:29:32,600 Speaker 2: Now I will be calm in my rant, which is 633 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:38,000 Speaker 2: that if you consume social media or parenting blogs or 634 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:40,280 Speaker 2: things like this, sometimes there is a bit of a 635 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:43,320 Speaker 2: narrative that if you are a good parent, you are 636 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:46,800 Speaker 2: making your kids lunches. Sometimes there's the whole visual of 637 00:29:46,840 --> 00:29:51,040 Speaker 2: doing that with little cutout stars in their sandwiches that 638 00:29:51,120 --> 00:29:53,800 Speaker 2: are then in other little parts of the Bento box 639 00:29:54,240 --> 00:29:57,200 Speaker 2: and such. Many of the people who are doing this 640 00:29:57,280 --> 00:29:59,520 Speaker 2: are doing this as a professional kind of thing. The 641 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:03,000 Speaker 2: photo or what is earning them endorsements, and so you 642 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:07,320 Speaker 2: can understand that that is professional content creation. It has 643 00:30:07,360 --> 00:30:10,360 Speaker 2: nothing to do with what a regular parent should be 644 00:30:10,360 --> 00:30:12,120 Speaker 2: doing with lunch packing. 645 00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:13,320 Speaker 1: But this is the key thing. 646 00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:16,080 Speaker 2: I don't know that it is the parent's responsibility to 647 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:18,000 Speaker 2: pack lunch. And in fact, I would go so far 648 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:21,680 Speaker 2: as to say that if your kids are past a 649 00:30:21,680 --> 00:30:25,880 Speaker 2: certain age and you are packing for them, you are 650 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:31,280 Speaker 2: missing an opportunity to teach them the skills of pack 651 00:30:31,760 --> 00:30:36,840 Speaker 2: thinking ahead about what they might like, about what needs 652 00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:39,400 Speaker 2: to be on the grocery list, about what a balanced 653 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:43,920 Speaker 2: meal might entail. All those are important skills as they 654 00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:46,880 Speaker 2: will be feeding themselves for life. So even if you 655 00:30:46,960 --> 00:30:50,360 Speaker 2: elect to be a family that brings lunch to school, 656 00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:53,840 Speaker 2: you as a parent, should probably cease to do that 657 00:30:54,360 --> 00:30:56,640 Speaker 2: at a certain point. In our family, it is age eight. 658 00:30:57,400 --> 00:30:59,160 Speaker 2: You can come up with your own family rule, but 659 00:31:00,040 --> 00:31:02,880 Speaker 2: if you are I would challenge the narrative that you 660 00:31:02,920 --> 00:31:05,800 Speaker 2: are a good parent doing this for a much older kid. 661 00:31:06,840 --> 00:31:11,600 Speaker 2: Right now, with that, there's nothing wrong with school lunch, 662 00:31:11,640 --> 00:31:13,200 Speaker 2: and in fact, there's been plenty. 663 00:31:13,360 --> 00:31:14,400 Speaker 1: There's another narrative that. 664 00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:17,640 Speaker 2: School lunch is terrible, it's bad, it's like a cop 665 00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:20,680 Speaker 2: out or something like that. School lunches are designed by 666 00:31:20,720 --> 00:31:26,520 Speaker 2: nutritionists and as such are almost guaranteed to have whatever 667 00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:30,520 Speaker 2: the USDA recommended allowance of what children are supposed to 668 00:31:30,600 --> 00:31:33,840 Speaker 2: have of various nutrients, which is not the case for 669 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:37,680 Speaker 2: home packed lunches. It is the only way you're really 670 00:31:37,680 --> 00:31:41,160 Speaker 2: going to safely have something that is hot. Most kids 671 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:44,320 Speaker 2: do not have access to a microwave as part of 672 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:45,760 Speaker 2: their I mean maybe if you're in a very small 673 00:31:45,760 --> 00:31:48,200 Speaker 2: school you would, but certainly as not a part of 674 00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:50,400 Speaker 2: a bigger school. Would that ever be something that was 675 00:31:50,920 --> 00:31:54,120 Speaker 2: And then most thermoses, there has been research on this. 676 00:31:54,160 --> 00:31:57,200 Speaker 2: Most thermists do not in fact keep stuff in the 677 00:31:57,320 --> 00:32:01,240 Speaker 2: zone long enough for, especially a child with a later 678 00:32:01,360 --> 00:32:04,280 Speaker 2: lunch break, for it to have been safely consumed. So 679 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:06,360 Speaker 2: if you want your kid to have a hot lunch, 680 00:32:06,480 --> 00:32:08,680 Speaker 2: school lunch is pretty much the only way to do that. 681 00:32:09,320 --> 00:32:11,680 Speaker 3: Now, I'm worried about the times I've like microwaved mac 682 00:32:11,720 --> 00:32:12,960 Speaker 3: and cheese and put it in the liddle. 683 00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:15,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's a hard thing. 684 00:32:15,600 --> 00:32:17,960 Speaker 2: It is a hard thing to keep food hot for 685 00:32:18,040 --> 00:32:20,840 Speaker 2: a long period of time and keep it above the 686 00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:23,920 Speaker 2: zone of where where bacteria is really growing in it. 687 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:27,520 Speaker 3: No, that makes sense. We're doing school lunch for the 688 00:32:27,520 --> 00:32:29,520 Speaker 3: big kids. I don't want to say it's free, but 689 00:32:29,560 --> 00:32:33,520 Speaker 3: it's included. So let's just say, like, I don't want 690 00:32:33,520 --> 00:32:36,720 Speaker 3: to be paying extra and bring your home food when 691 00:32:36,720 --> 00:32:39,840 Speaker 3: there's lunch there for you. Genevieve is not yet eight, 692 00:32:40,760 --> 00:32:44,000 Speaker 3: and their school lunch is not included and is disgustingly 693 00:32:44,040 --> 00:32:46,840 Speaker 3: expensive for what you get. So I go the like 694 00:32:46,880 --> 00:32:49,160 Speaker 3: halfway route, which is like I buy something like a 695 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:53,200 Speaker 3: pre made salad for three ninety nine and I put 696 00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:55,800 Speaker 3: that in her lunch box with a couple of snacks, and. 697 00:32:55,760 --> 00:32:57,960 Speaker 4: She likes that. Yeah, so everyone's happy. 698 00:32:58,040 --> 00:32:59,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, And certainly the quality of the food. 699 00:32:59,640 --> 00:33:00,760 Speaker 2: I mean, by the time you get to like the 700 00:33:00,800 --> 00:33:02,680 Speaker 2: middle school and high school in our district, I mean 701 00:33:02,680 --> 00:33:04,640 Speaker 2: it's more of almost like deli style, which I'm not 702 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:08,160 Speaker 2: saying it's the most affordable thing. I mean maybe we 703 00:33:08,160 --> 00:33:10,560 Speaker 2: would be saving money by packing lunches at this point, 704 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:13,720 Speaker 2: because I know Jasper was getting this like fruit cup, 705 00:33:13,760 --> 00:33:16,400 Speaker 2: which is like a pack of strawberries, like you might 706 00:33:16,400 --> 00:33:18,840 Speaker 2: buy at a high end deli and it was about 707 00:33:18,840 --> 00:33:21,360 Speaker 2: what it was costing every day is the same as 708 00:33:21,440 --> 00:33:24,480 Speaker 2: like doing this at Chopped or whatever. 709 00:33:24,720 --> 00:33:27,600 Speaker 1: But it's just like, this is not a battle. 710 00:33:27,640 --> 00:33:30,400 Speaker 2: I'm not looking to save money by keeping my kids 711 00:33:30,440 --> 00:33:31,640 Speaker 2: from buying fruit for lunch. 712 00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:32,760 Speaker 1: Let me put it that way. 713 00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:34,600 Speaker 4: Totally fair. 714 00:33:34,920 --> 00:33:38,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, so do what works for your family. 715 00:33:38,560 --> 00:33:41,360 Speaker 2: But we would just strongly encourage you that you can 716 00:33:41,840 --> 00:33:44,160 Speaker 2: buy school lunch without thinking that you are failing your 717 00:33:44,240 --> 00:33:48,080 Speaker 2: children somehow, that if your kids are bringing a lunch, 718 00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:50,000 Speaker 2: you do not personally need to pack it for them, 719 00:33:50,040 --> 00:33:52,320 Speaker 2: and there might be some upsides and having them learn 720 00:33:52,720 --> 00:33:55,000 Speaker 2: how to create a lunch and make sure things are 721 00:33:55,040 --> 00:33:57,120 Speaker 2: on the family grocery list and be in charge of 722 00:33:57,120 --> 00:33:57,800 Speaker 2: that for themselves. 723 00:33:57,800 --> 00:34:00,920 Speaker 1: It's an opportunity to build a lot of dependence. So 724 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:05,240 Speaker 1: go for that, all right. So, Sarah, Love of the Week, 725 00:34:05,600 --> 00:34:06,160 Speaker 1: what do you have? 726 00:34:06,680 --> 00:34:09,120 Speaker 3: What if I name some YouTuber that made like fancy lunches? 727 00:34:09,320 --> 00:34:11,279 Speaker 3: We did have family fudge on our Love of the Week. 728 00:34:11,360 --> 00:34:13,040 Speaker 4: Yes, that would be really hypocritical. 729 00:34:13,760 --> 00:34:13,840 Speaker 2: No. 730 00:34:14,440 --> 00:34:17,800 Speaker 4: I was doing Genevieve's hair and I was like realizing 731 00:34:17,800 --> 00:34:19,879 Speaker 4: that we've bought the same detangling spray for at least 732 00:34:19,880 --> 00:34:21,879 Speaker 4: a decade, and I don't think I've ever shouted it out. 733 00:34:21,880 --> 00:34:25,840 Speaker 3: So the Babo Botanicals Berry and Primrose conditioning spray available 734 00:34:25,880 --> 00:34:26,960 Speaker 3: on subscribe. 735 00:34:26,480 --> 00:34:27,800 Speaker 4: And saep at Amazon. 736 00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:29,000 Speaker 3: Yeah. 737 00:34:29,040 --> 00:34:32,080 Speaker 4: I really like the smell and it definitely makes detangling 738 00:34:32,440 --> 00:34:35,600 Speaker 4: hair easier. Yeah, recommend, recommend, Okay, all. 739 00:34:35,560 --> 00:34:38,160 Speaker 2: Right, yeah, I yes, my children don't have hair that 740 00:34:38,200 --> 00:34:42,520 Speaker 2: requires detangling. I guess I didn't really understand that that 741 00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:43,879 Speaker 2: was a win in any way. 742 00:34:44,040 --> 00:34:45,879 Speaker 4: It's like my niece to sleep on it and it's 743 00:34:45,880 --> 00:34:47,200 Speaker 4: like perfectly straight. No, I'm not my. 744 00:34:47,200 --> 00:34:51,040 Speaker 2: Care's lovely beautiful things with hair with lots of texture. 745 00:34:51,040 --> 00:34:53,400 Speaker 2: I'm not implying it anyway, but in terms of like 746 00:34:53,480 --> 00:34:57,160 Speaker 2: time it takes to manage it, that can be more 747 00:34:57,200 --> 00:35:00,240 Speaker 2: efficient if your hair does not require that. So yeah, 748 00:35:00,320 --> 00:35:02,000 Speaker 2: we had the funny thing the other day was Ruth 749 00:35:02,120 --> 00:35:04,040 Speaker 2: was trying to braid her hair to go to before 750 00:35:04,080 --> 00:35:05,480 Speaker 2: she was going to camp, and I was like, well 751 00:35:05,520 --> 00:35:05,960 Speaker 2: I can do that. 752 00:35:06,040 --> 00:35:06,960 Speaker 1: She's like, I didn't even. 753 00:35:06,760 --> 00:35:10,399 Speaker 2: Know you knew how to braid, And I was kind 754 00:35:10,440 --> 00:35:13,399 Speaker 2: of like packing lunches. By just not doing things for kids, 755 00:35:13,440 --> 00:35:15,279 Speaker 2: they learned to do it all by themselves. And then 756 00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:18,040 Speaker 2: you never have to be involved in it, So there 757 00:35:18,080 --> 00:35:21,480 Speaker 2: we go. But my love of the week is going 758 00:35:21,520 --> 00:35:26,120 Speaker 2: to be Beethoven's sixth Symphony. So the week before we 759 00:35:26,200 --> 00:35:30,080 Speaker 2: recorded this, I was doing a lot of driving around 760 00:35:30,560 --> 00:35:34,200 Speaker 2: for various camp drop off, pick up, et cetera, and 761 00:35:34,440 --> 00:35:37,319 Speaker 2: kid activities. And I've been listening to all the works 762 00:35:37,320 --> 00:35:40,120 Speaker 2: of Beethoven this year. So each day I get an assignment, 763 00:35:40,120 --> 00:35:43,440 Speaker 2: and one of my assignments last week was Beethoven's sixth Symphony, 764 00:35:43,440 --> 00:35:45,400 Speaker 2: and so I was listening to that one day and 765 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:47,440 Speaker 2: then I wound up like listening to it again other 766 00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:49,680 Speaker 2: days when I had gotten through that day's selection, because 767 00:35:49,680 --> 00:35:53,240 Speaker 2: it's just so awesome. It's amazing. It is an amazing symphony, 768 00:35:53,239 --> 00:35:56,080 Speaker 2: the pastoral symphony. So if you have not listened to that, 769 00:35:56,320 --> 00:35:58,720 Speaker 2: and you were looking for something to make your drive 770 00:35:58,840 --> 00:36:02,880 Speaker 2: to and from school or reactivities or work. 771 00:36:02,640 --> 00:36:05,160 Speaker 1: Whatever better today, give it a listen. 772 00:36:05,719 --> 00:36:06,200 Speaker 4: I'll do it. 773 00:36:06,360 --> 00:36:08,799 Speaker 1: You do it all right? Well, this has been best 774 00:36:08,840 --> 00:36:09,680 Speaker 1: of both worlds. 775 00:36:09,719 --> 00:36:14,240 Speaker 2: With our ninth annual discussion of back to school season, 776 00:36:14,560 --> 00:36:15,680 Speaker 2: I guess, sir, I think. 777 00:36:15,560 --> 00:36:17,880 Speaker 4: We're going to make it to a tenth I think so. 778 00:36:18,200 --> 00:36:20,480 Speaker 4: I was just thinking that the first time I only 779 00:36:20,480 --> 00:36:23,280 Speaker 4: have like one kid in actual school, like so cute. 780 00:36:23,360 --> 00:36:26,120 Speaker 2: I don't think we definitely did not have an official 781 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:28,799 Speaker 2: BTS episode. I think that first year, I think it 782 00:36:28,800 --> 00:36:32,080 Speaker 2: was more that we were just discussing families, rituals and 783 00:36:32,160 --> 00:36:35,200 Speaker 2: things like that. So I don't know, but we've done 784 00:36:35,239 --> 00:36:37,560 Speaker 2: it pretty much every year since. I'm pretty sure I've 785 00:36:37,640 --> 00:36:38,919 Speaker 2: called it a million things too. 786 00:36:39,400 --> 00:36:41,320 Speaker 4: Yeah, I enjoy doing it, so I hope people enjoy 787 00:36:41,440 --> 00:36:42,080 Speaker 4: listening to it. 788 00:36:42,239 --> 00:36:43,879 Speaker 1: Yes, absolutely well. 789 00:36:43,960 --> 00:36:45,960 Speaker 2: We'll tune in for the tenth one next year, and 790 00:36:46,000 --> 00:36:48,360 Speaker 2: in the meantime, here's to making work in life fit together. 791 00:36:50,600 --> 00:36:51,440 Speaker 4: Thanks for listening. 792 00:36:51,680 --> 00:36:54,759 Speaker 3: You can find me Sarah at the shoebox dot com 793 00:36:54,880 --> 00:36:58,319 Speaker 3: or at the Underscore Shoebox on Instagram. 794 00:36:58,200 --> 00:37:02,480 Speaker 2: And you can find me Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. 795 00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:05,800 Speaker 2: This has been the best of both worlds podcasts. Please 796 00:37:05,880 --> 00:37:08,480 Speaker 2: join us next time for more on making work and 797 00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:09,680 Speaker 2: life work together.