We all want to be healthy and enjoy our lives with our family and friends.  Did you know multiple studies have shown that adults with strong friend groups will less likely be depressed or suffer from poor heart health.  Friendships can also increase your life expectancy.  What are some ways you can keep those strong bonds with your friends?  Consider staying in touch on a regular basis, sharing updates on events and/or things you've experienced, reminisce and plan time to see each other.

1.  Stay in touch. Social media is a great tool to use when you want to catch up with your friends.  There is something even better than catching up on social media.  Plan a day and time to meet in person.  You could go to a favorite restaurant or even meet at a park and take a walk.

2.  Share Updates.  What are some things you and your friends have in common?  Did you go to the same school? Did you grow up in the same neighborhood? Do you have several friends in common? Whatever the case, keep your group up-to-date on things going on in your life from work, family or your current projects.  When you share, you motivate others to do the same.

3.  Reminisce.  Nothing brings a smile to my face faster than looking at old photos and talking about childhood memories.  Call or contact a friend on social media and share a fond memory.  It could make their day and draw you closer together.

4.  Celebrate.  Do you keep track of your friends' birthdays or anniversaries? It's nice to call or post happy birthday.  If you want to grow the relationship, celebrate with a gift.  When you go above and beyond, you make your friends feel special.  They will remember and it can strengthen the connection.

We want to have strong relationships with our friends.  Friendships help us to build healthy social lives.  Friendships minimize stress and provide opportunities to enjoy time away from regular routines.  They can improve overall health and bring years of joy and happiness into your life.

As we prepare to embark upon a new school year, several thoughts cross my mind.

Will my children attend school face to face?

Will they take on-line classes?

Will my daughters participate in extra-curricular activities?

Knowing this school year will differ in comparison to others, due to the pandemic, we as parents and teachers have to determine the appropriate steps to follow. We need to make the best choices to keep us all safe and determine what it will look like for children entering school or working remotely from home. 

Here are a few tips to consider in preparing for the upcoming school year.

Make a schedule. Children need structure. There can be some flexibility for breaks, playtime and snacks but ideally you want them to have a routine. A schedule helps their day and you function better. It’s also healthy for children to have a set time to wake up and perform their daily tasks.

Here’s an example:

7am - wake -up/prepare for the day

9am - Reading/Writing

10am - Math

11am - Lunch

12pm – Extra-curricular activities: walking, bike riding, drawing, journaling 

1pm - Social Studies

2pm - Science

3pm - Snack

5pm - 7pm - Dinner

8pm - Prepare for bed

Stay involved. As this school year draws closer, stay in the know. This will better prepare you for what’s to come. Read/listen to the news and get updates on the school board meetings by attending them virtually.

Plan to teach. Familiarize yourself with your child’s grade level standards. It’s even good to view the standards in the previous grade. You may need to fill in some learning gaps to make sure your child is proficient. There are numerous web sites with resources to support you.

Preparing for the upcoming school year is not a decision to take lightly. Children need to continue learning and we need to keep working on our projects and work assignments. As you move forward consider the information shared and make the best decision for you and your family.

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    CULTURE SHOCK

Merriam Webster defines culture shock as a sense of confusion and uncertainty sometimes with feelings of anxiety that may affect people exposed to an alien culture or environment without adequate preparation. 

Both adults and children experience culture shock. Children are typically resilient and show evidence of culture shock in different ways than adults. 

Some common feelings shared by all:

These feelings may cause one to withdraw. If you focus on learning about the new environment and observing your new surroundings as a new experience, the discomfort will pass.

So remember, if you plan to interact with someone with a different background, travel abroad or host someone from another country, consider these tips for dealing with culture shock:

1. Learn as much about the country as possible
2. Ask the organizers for advice and tips to consider when meeting new people
3. Set a few goals for your experience/trip
4. Write what you liked and found interesting in a journal
5. Talk to other people about how they felt when they traveled abroad or met someone from another country

Always be yourself, do your best to learn about the new culture and remember everyone adjusts at their own pace.