08/31/2026
The last Sunday of August.
There’s something about this Sunday that can feel a little different.
Summer is winding down. September is getting closer. And even though there’s still another week before school starts, you can almost feel the shift coming.
For some kids, that shift brings excitement.
For others, it brings worry.
And for some, it’s a little bit of both.
As a kid, this time of year was hard for me. That feeling of summer ending and knowing that everything was about to change could bring a lot of anxiety.
Now, as a parent, I see it in my own kids—and in so many of the children and families I work with.
This year feels especially significant in our house because my oldest is starting high school.
A big, exciting milestone.
And also… a big transition.
Transitions can bring up so much. New routines. New expectations. New teachers. New friendships. New environments. The uncertainty of not knowing exactly what things will be like.
And sometimes anxiety shows up before the change even happens.
That’s why Sundays can be hard for so many people, too. The Sunday scaries aren’t really about Sunday—they’re often about anticipating what’s coming next.
So as we head into this last week of August, maybe we don’t need to rush our kids through their worries or convince them that everything will be fine.
Maybe we can simply acknowledge them.
“It makes sense that you’re feeling nervous.”
“A lot is changing.”
“You don’t have to know how everything will go.”
“We’ll figure it out together.”
“I know you will do great, even if you don’t quite feel that yet”
Because our kids don’t need us to make every transition easy.
They need to know they don’t have to navigate it alone.
Here’s to the last Sunday of August—and to gently making space for all the feelings that come with a new beginning. 🤍
