Weaving Summer Calm Into Fall: Nervous System Care for Moms and Kids
The end of summer always creeps up on me. This year, as I watch my son head into sixth grade, I’ve felt a knot in my stomach more than excitement. As a neurodivergent kid, he often has a lot of resistance to school. For him, there’s the weight of expectations that he knows will be waiting for him the moment he walks through those doors. All summer we’ve been in our little bubble — long mornings, slow days, no backpacks to pack or forms to sign. I’ve loved it, and part of me doesn’t want to let it go.
But I also know that if I carry this energy into the fall — the worry, the bracing, the constant “what if” — it won’t help either of us. I don’t need to slap toxic positivity over it, pretending everything is fine. What I can do is shift my own internal story about what transitions mean.
The truth is: not every child feels excited about crisp notebooks, new pencils, or the thrill of a first-day outfit. (And if your child does, that’s wonderful.) But for kids like mine, the season carries a very different weight. They feel the pressure creeping in, the expectations looming, the shift from free-flowing summer to rigid schedules. Their nervous systems register that stress immediately, and — if we’re honest — so do ours.
That’s why in our house, I’ve learned to do less, not more. After-school activities are minimal. We plan a handful of fun fall things outside of school — apple picking, a cozy movie night, a weekend with friends — so there’s something to look forward to beyond academics. I try not to make a big deal about what he’s wearing, whether his backpack is perfectly organized, or whether he’s projecting “readiness.” My job is to soften the edges, not sharpen them.
And that softening includes holding onto some of summer’s ease. Just because school has started doesn’t mean we have to abandon it. We can carry a bit of that flow with us into fall by weaving in small rituals that help us breathe and reconnect:
Take a spontaneous walk for ice cream after dinner on a weeknight.
Spread a blanket on the living room floor and call it a picnic.
Turn on your “summer playlist” in the car when the week feels heavy.
Step outside for ten minutes before homework to reset.
Keep Friday nights sacred for pizza, a movie, or board games.
Protect one morning on the weekend for a slow, no-plans breakfast.
Plan a simple “tiny celebration” — hot cocoa after a tough day, baking something easy on a Sunday.
None of these require elaborate planning. They’re about keeping a thread of lightness and connection running through the structure of the school year — for us and for our kids.
But here’s the part we so often skip: moms need their own plan for transitions, too. If our nervous systems are constantly on edge, no amount of rituals for our kids will fully land. So here’s a gentle framework I use to care for myself during this season:
1. Choose one daily grounding practice.
It could be a walk around the block, a cup of tea before bed, or ten minutes of journaling after drop-off. One small ritual that reminds your body it’s safe to exhale.
2. Get in the sunshine.
Even as the temperatures cool, step outside and let your body soak up the light. It regulates mood, resets your nervous system, and brings a piece of summer into fall.
3. Protect a pocket of rest each week.
Pick one block of time — even just an hour — where you’re not “catching up” or multitasking. Put the phone away, close the laptop, and let your nervous system downshift. And if you’d like guided support with this, you’re invited to my free Nurture Reset live on September 8 at 12pm EST — a chance to pause, breathe, and step into the season with more clarity and calm.
4. Name what you’re grieving.
Transitions always carry loss. Maybe it’s slower mornings, maybe it’s time together, maybe it’s the ease of summer. Saying it out loud — even just to yourself — creates space to let it move through you.
5. Give yourself permission to lower the bar.
Not every lunch has to be Pinterest-worthy. Not every backpack needs to be perfectly packed. Softening expectations for yourself is just as important as softening them for your child.
6. Anchor in something you’re excited about.
Fall can hold joy, too — cooler evenings, cozy sweaters, a new book, a weekend adventure. Let yourself have something that feels like yours.
Join me for the Nurture Reset (Live Free Webinar)
Doing Less, Feeling Better: A Reset for Overwhelmed Parents
📅 Monday, September 8
🕛 12:00 pm EST (live on Google Meet)
This free, live session is a chance to slow down and get clear.
Together, we’ll explore:
🧭 What’s currently overwhelming you
🌱 What actually matters in your parenting
🧰 How to reset your role, energy, and daily intentions
💞 And how to stay grounded in your values (especially when things feel chaotic)
You’re not behind. You’re not broken.
You’re just ready for a new way forward.
Let’s find it together.
With care,
Jess
Groundwork: The Foundational Coaching Experience for Aligned Motherhood
8 weeks of personalized support to help you reconnect with yourself, understand your child’s behavior, and show up with more ease—even in the hard moments. For new clients only.
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