01/09/2026
I started September with good intentions.
7am swim.
Fresh start.
New month.
Get back into a routine. Except… the 7am swim didn’t happen! I initially blamed everyone else for why it didn’t happen. But actually, it doesn’t matter. The important bit is that I tried.
And that got me thinking about our children as they head into a new school year. We can have the best intentions. We can buy the uniform, label the water bottle, organise the bag, practise the morning routine and talk about how exciting September will be, and then it might not go to plan.
Your child might struggle with the transition.
They might feel overwhelmed.
They might have a wobble at the school gate.
Friendships might be tricky.
Anxiety might show up.
The routine might fall apart.
But that doesn’t mean they (or you) have failed. We talk a lot about resilience, and resilience isn’t about getting everything right or never struggling. It’s about having the tools to navigate the difficult moments, learn from them and try again.
Sometimes the win isn’t getting it right.
Sometimes the win is simply: “I tried.”
So, as we start this new school year, let’s take the pressure off ourselves and our children. It doesn’t have to be perfect.It just has to be a start.
So, if today didn’t go to plan… tomorrow is another opportunity to try again
