Welcome to Day 1 of my Back-to-School organizing series. But I’ll be honest, this is more than just an organizing series. If you read my Encouragement for Today devotion, you’ll know my heart goes out to all moms who are shedding a tear or two at the start of a new school year. Whether your children are starting kindergarten or college. Whether your home school or send your children to public school. Or whether they attend a Christian or charter school, many moms face painful emotions this time of year. Our children are growing up, and while there is SO MUCH to be thankful for, it’s still hard to have them need us less than before.
Every day my children are growing and changing. Our relationships are changing. And, if I’m doing my job right, my children are growing more independent of me – and I should be growing more independent of them. But this doesn’t always feel great to me. In fact, if the complete truth were known (which it is right now), I kind of like them dependent on me. Can anyone relate?
For each of my biological children (we have two wonderful adopted children), there were nine months when it was just the two of us. I was everything to them. And every year since then, they have needed me just a bit less. Now – let me be clear. I do not want to return to the sleepless nights and diaper changing seasons. While I loved those years, I don’t miss parts of them. But I do miss being able to quiet their crying with just a hug. Or having them come running to me with arms upraised. I’ll have to wait for grandchildren to relive the best of those days.
And really, some days I just get sick and tired of all the changing going on. But when I feel shaky and need some stability, there is one place I know to go. And that is directly to my heavenly Father. He never changes.
His character is unchangeable … he is always good, always wise, always truthful. He never deceives, never betrays.
His faithfulness is unchangeable … what He says, He will do.
His love for me is unchangeable … I can’t make Him love me less … or more. And he never tires of my need for Him.
And I’m so glad He wants to be closer to me. I don’t want to wait until my children are older to begin developing this relationship that will last forever. I hope you don’t either. So when you feel a bit weepy, pick up your Bible. Even if it’s just for five minutes, spend some time with God and His Word. It doesn’t matter where you pick to read, God will meet you there. After you’ve read the Bible for a bit, spend some time talking to God like He’s sitting right next to you, and let Him know how you feel. I’m confident you will experience God’s peace and comfort. And it will only get better the more you spend time with Him.
Here’s what God has to say:
God’s Word
Jeremiah 31:3, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”
Malachi 3:6, ““I the Lord do not change.”
Deuteronomy 7:7-9, “The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God,keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”
Organizing Tip
Finally, I’ll share an organizing tip. It’s important to have a place for all the paper parents and children need to keep throughout the school year. Throughout the years, these papers have included letters from the teacher, class lists, syllabus’, and book lists, to name a few. Band, choir and sports bring more papers we need to keep. What to do with all this paper?
For the 15 years I’ve had children in school, I’ve used the same simple affordable system, and it works great. It’s so low tech I’m almost embarrassed to mention it. But here goes. Each child has a pocket folder with their name on the front written in a Sharpie marker. I’ve also had folders for Girls Scouts and Pop Warner Football. These folders have fit nicely in a kitchen drawer for years. And I can’t tell you how often I refer to these folders throughout the school year.
If you don’t like my cheap and boring idea, you might consider a decorative accordion file or a desktop file. The keys to organizing these papers is to keep them handy.
That’s it for today. I hope you’ll check back in tomorrow for more encouragement and tips. On Friday, my super-organized friend Karen Ehman will be posting. We’ve got some give-aways planned too! If you’d like to subscribe to my blog to get my posts for the next few weeks, please enter your email address in the box on the right.
Thanks so much for joining me today.
In His love,
Glynnis
Thank you for your words of encouragement. I took my oldest child to college last Sunday- so it has been a week and I have been grieving. You expressed beautifully how I feel and gave me great insight. I , too sobbed the minute we drove away- and sonnet for the whole drive from Boulder to Centennial,CO. God showed me in the Jesus Calling devotional dated 8/23 to release my son to Him. God has been showing Himself to me- and you are so right on- He never, ever, ever changes. Thank you for sharing your heart and helping this mother understand my tears a little better. Linda
Thank you for this post. I, too, can relate and have been grieving our empty nest.
My daughter left for Colorado Christian University last Friday — an 11 hour drive from our home in Missouri — for her final year of college. Before we shared our last breakfast with our youngest child, my husband started to tear up as he prayed, and then I could no longer hold my own tears in. We’re pretty sure she will stay in Colorado after graduation, so we all knew this was our final breakfast with our “baby”. After they both left (my hubby drove 2 hours with her to make sure she got safely out of Kansas City), I just bawled and cried out to the LORD. He reminded me of the good things He had done for our daughter. All day at work I thanked God for His provisions, and I realized that as I put the focus on Him, my sadness dissipated.
God has provided my daughter with a WONDERFUL Christian education, Godly professors and friends, scholarships, and safety. Our son is in the Army (8 hours away in Kentucky), and is married with a little one on the way. The LORD has provided him with a safety and now a family. My grief has turned to thanksgiving.
Psalm 69:30 I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
I am so thankful for all of the other moms that responded to Glyniss’s blog. I wanted to share the entry from Sarah Young’s “Jesus Calling” August 23. (part of it)
“Entrust your loved ones to me;release them into my protective care.They are much safer with me than in your clinging hands……When you release your loved ones to me,you are free to cling to My hand.As you entrust others into My care, I am free to shower blessings on them. My Presence will go with them wherever they go, and I will give them rest.This same Presence will stay with you, as you relax and put your trust in Me. Watch to see what I will do.” Exodus 33:14 “The Lord replied,”My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” GOD NEVER CHANGES!!!! Have a blessed everyone- Linda
I enjoyed your devo on p31 today and I had to jump over here to see what you were blogging. I’m so glad I was reminded of your words: my identity is not found in being a mother, but a daughter of the King. I always struggle with being a stay at home mom while my working friends work. I’m in a season of staying at home until my youngest goes to school and I know God has a plan for me, whether it’s staying at home or working. Thank you for your encouragement!
Jackie,
Accept this opportunity with grace and thankfulness. I, too, stayed home with my children until they were in school. I was home a total of 12 years and often had the same feelings you have. Just be patient and soak up every moment of these years with your sweet children. I now have a Junior in college and a Junior in high school. Just remember this one thing. . . many of those working friends of yours wish they too could have the opportunity to stay at home with their children. I always tried to see it as a blessing that God provided for our needs and I was able to be home to raise my children the way I knew God wanted them to be raised. . . in a loving, Christian environment. Believe me, the pay off was HUGE!! I have the best son and daughter in the world!!
I too can totally relate as I have just returned from an 8 hour cross border drive to drop off our son in his new lodgings……I am so thankful for ‘soul sisters ‘ God has provided me with , like yourself who He speaks through to encourage and uplift as we journey through our ‘letting go’ season.
Ah, Glynnis, right there with you and these other comments. Glad to have each other in the blogosphere because it seems like we are all going through this together, and I don’t feel so dopey. I had a terrible time leaving home myself, but eventually I completely separated. Now I live way too far from my parents and in-laws, and now that they are aging, I feel the separation anxiety in new ways…I feel pulled apart. I also have a Sophomore in college (she’s just down the street at the college where my husband teaches but lives in the dorms), but also a junior in HS and 4th grader. When the 4th grader goes, I have no idea how I’ll get by, but by then, I may have lost my mind anyway : ) I am glad for girlfriends…both near and far, and even those I only meet through their writing. Thanks
Thank you for this post….I’m tearing up just reading it knowing that in a little over a week, we will be sending our oldest son off to college 17 hours away from us. We are excited to see what God is going to do in his life, but very sad that he will be so far from us. Life is indeed full of adjustments, but as you stated so well, God NEVER changes!! thanks for the encouragement this morning!
My shoulders relaxed a bit this morning as I breathed when I saw the title of your devotion! I only have a 3rd grader and preschooler but I am feeling quite blue about them returning to school. I keep thinking “did I do enough things with them this summer to build them closer to God?” I feel guilty for not doing enough b/c as you said in devotion, they need me less. I feel it especially with my son. It makes me sad. But thank you for reminding me that God never changes and I need to be more dependent on Him. Amen
As I write this my husband and I are driving our daughter to college in Mich
10 hours from home. She is our second of three girls.
Where do I begin… 2 years ago when we brought our oldest to her college
dorm only 15 miles away I felt such grief and it felt like
like I was in mourning. I couldn’t even go onto her bedroom
as it felt too great a loss. The noise changed in the house, the routine,
the food shopping. As I reached to te Lord for comfort day after
day by praying and reading His word, this is what He said to me,
“April, she belongs to Me too. I gave her to you to be a good stewart
of her upbringing. I entrusted her to you to teach her to love Me with all her
heart, mind and soul. You did that and now trust Me that I will take care of her”
It was what I needed to hear. I felt His peace which helped me with my loss.
Now… (literally) As I sit in the passenger seat we drive towards another change.
The feelings of loss reemerge and are overwhelming. The noise level
will change even more and the food bill less but what really hurts is the feeling of loosing
another daughter. The feeling is real. We’ll be driving home with our last daughter, a rising senior, in the backseat who is also heartbroken as she is loosing her best friend.
This time around I know confidently that the Lord is in control, loves my daughters too
and goes before them. The only control I have is prayer. So I will be praying in the
Moms in Prayer Int.t’ ministry for my girls. It’s the only power I have. The Lord has comforted me abundantly through my prayers and my daughters as well. He is with them while I am not and watching over them. Although the loss is great God’s faithfulness and love is what I know for sure and it’s the comfort I depend on Praise God!
I am sitting here with tears running down my face just reading all of the thoughts of all you wonderful Christian women letting your children go to the next phase of their life- and my children are still in elementary school! I think what touches me the most is that while I am sitting here in Tennessee, I am reading these thoughts from others in Colorado, Missourri and elsewhere in the country and it is just so reassuring that there are Christian moms out there that turn to our Savior for support. Sometimes it feels like there are so few out there…. Have a blessed day my sisters in Christ and I will be praying for you and your children.
Good Morning Glyniss and thank you so much for your words this morning. I am one of those who are struggling with the back to school rountine. I have a junior in high school and a junior in college and it has not gotten easier for me over the years to begin the next phase. I so appreciate the reminder that God, His love for me, and His desire for me to draw closer to Him never changes.
I have used the same sort of filing system as you in the past, but quickly found myself purchasing the large 3 ring binder model as the years got more complicated. I also keep directions for frequently revisited places such as other schools where sporting events are held and motels where we have stayed in the past near the longer travels.
God Bless you as you begin this school year series. I, for one, have had it marked on my calendar in anticipation. I’m sure it will be a blessing to many more like myself.
Isn’t the plural of syllabus the word syllabi?
Just wondering 
Some think I’m weird that I’m not the emotional type when the kids go back to school. I was ready for them to go back 6 weeks ago.
But then I’m not usually the emotional type. Only have been with milestones that my first-born reaches, like turning 18 and graduating high school – but he’s also my special needs child.
I too dropped off a daughter at college just a few days ago. I thought that I had done most of my grieving months ago as I mourned for what I knew was coming. I didn’t cry (much) when we dropped her off, but now I feel on the verge of tears often. As I examine the reasons behind these feelings, I agree that part of it is seeing my daughter become independent of me, but there is more. Part of what I’m feeling is fear. Fear that I haven’t been the perfect parent I wanted to be, that I have failed her in some way, and that I didn’t develop a close enough relationship with her. There’s also regret. There are things I wanted to do with her that didn’t get done, and it’s too late now. But I realize that I need to trust the Lord with all these feelings. I sought the Lord as she grew up and tried to teach her his ways. I need to trust that God understands my humanness, and that he is the only perfect parent. He is the one who can fill in for my inadequacies. My daughter’s future success (in his eyes) is not ultimately dependent on me, but on his faithfulness. And he has been faithful. He has given her a heart for him and for ministry, and she is attending Moody Bible Institute. I couldn’t be more pleased with her choice. I pray that God will bless us with a close mother-daughter relationship as adults, and that he will help us figure out how that works in this new season of life.
Thank you so much for your post today! It was so nice to see that I am not the only one who cries on every 1st day of school! I miss the uncluttered time with my children! Every time I drop my oldest daughter off at college I get teary! Even if I just saw her a few days prior! I used to think that it was part of the single parenting thing that I was going through. Thanks for showing me that it’s just a mothering thing. Thanks for putting my feelings into words.
Thank you for your encouraging post on P31 today. Although my son has just turned 3, I think of his future often and pray that he will have strong relationship with Jesus Christ. I thank God daily for what a blessing he is in my life as well as my husband’s life; and for trusting us to be his parents. I remind myself he will only be little once, and I want to spend every mintute I can with him!
Glynnis:
I have come to love and appreciate you! I look forward to your writings; they offer such encouragement and spiritual uplift. My son is beginning his second year out of college, working, planning a wedding for next year, buying that first home and preparing to move out at some point. My daughter is in her second year of college; yes, a double graduation last year! Life IS changing rapidly, but I am so thankful that our God never changes. My relationship with Him becomes more precious every day. May God bless you and your every-changing family! Keep sharing our heart with us!
Thankyou for this post, school starts in a week for us, getting the school supplies all labled and into backpacks.
Love the tip, I do something like that too
Can I just say…it only gets better…what God has in store for you with the empty nest…it gets filled again…with little grandkids…(eventually!) I too was always tearful at each fall with kids going back to school, onto college etc.
We are thoroughly enjoying our adult children! We are having a great time traveling, and now enjoying our two year old grandson.
Thank you for these words this morning. I sure needed them. This morning my youngest started middle school, my middle child started high school and in a few short weeks my oldest will be getting married. This is three very large changes in our household and I too am feeling just not as needed as I once was. Your post this morning made me feel a little better about all the upcoming changes in our household.
Thanks
Oh glynnis,
How you spoke to my heart today….I am a single mom of a 16 year boy who is my pride and joy. I know in my head that he should, and needs to become independent and grow, and yet it just hurts my heart that he doesnt “need” me like he used to. And I, like you, like having him depend on me. I have soooo much to be thankful for, so I know I shouldnt be wishing for the days when he needed me more, but I miss it!
Thank you for the encouragement to turn to my heavenly Father, to lean on him when I feel saddened by life adjustments as he grows. I know it will be even harder in a few years when the time for college comes. And I know that my relationship with the Lord will prepare me, and be my comfort.
God bless you!
i went through this when my two boys left home, got married….it was very sad for me and yes i turned to the Lord for strengh, but the best sign i had done my job well as unto the Lord…..when each of my boys called about life decisions asking me to pray for them to make Godly choices….it was so reassuring and comforting…..they know i pray for them……God is faithful all the time and they realize it too….they know i love them and the Lord loves them more……the teaching and training is ingrained in them forever.
I have a 9 year old granddaughter that lost her Mom July 28, 2011. She is special needs. She had been with the same students and a wonderful teacher for three years. The two secretaries LOVED her, three of her former teachers friended me on fb and write beautiful notes to her saying how much they love her and miss her! Last year she would just all of a sudden say “I LOVE my school!” Well, this year she has had to change schools, and so far I’m not feeling the love! Neither is Haley! She says she doesn’t want to go to school, she has asked me to call her old teacher and ask if she can come back there, today I had to go get her because she was sick and throwing up (seems fine after I got her home) and my heart is just breaking for her! We had also prayed together through the summer that she would get the “perfect” school and the “perfect” teacher. I have already seen a couple of incidences of them NOT being nice! If there are ANY suggestions as to how I can make this a better year for her, please please tell them to me! Thank you so much for all you do! I do know to keep praying and taking it to the Lord and that time can make things better for her!
Thank you very much for this post and the Encouragement for Today devotion. Today is the third day of school for my high school junior, freshman, and kindergartner and I am struggling. It’s like you wrote the devotion and post for me! Thank you for allowing God to speak through you to give me just the right words, Scriptures, and prayers I needed at this very moment. Now, I think I’ll be able to make it through the day.
Are you my twin separated at birth, Glynnis?! You so perfectly summarized my feelings as my kids enter 11th and 9th. We homeschool, so I’m already mourning at times, the loss of every day with them…it’ll be a huge adjustment! It’ll also be like losing my job, since homeschooling is what I do daily. I know God will be faithful to carry me and all us moms through but there’s something so wonderful about hearing from other moms that have felt the same way too! Thank you so much for sharing!
Today your timing (and God’s) is perfect. Son #2 came home after 8 weeks away at a summer job, son #1 leaves for college this week and son #3 was taken to buy his uniform for school today and all mom could do was fight her tears and wish God had not made her such a softie! I never thought about how God was drawing me close while I was feeling left behind. I needed the reminder. Thank you.
Thank you for both the devotional & blog message(s). If you or others read this please pray that my husband & I will have peace about sending our oldest to a part time kdg public school program. The district is great but I am nervous b/c as a mom I tend to worry & wonder,if even at this young age, my son will stand for right. I am praying as well that kdg is right & keep second guessing if I should have done one more pre k year…oh the worries. I am praying & with HIS help trying not to worry but it’s hard especially as he is my first born. ~Blessings~
I love the ideas you have/are giving to help each day become a success as we track back to school. These are things I think we all have thought of yet need to be reminded we can do it. We can get on task an stay there in this high speed life we lead.
I don’t think I can add anything to the breakfast ideas – there are so many great ones listed! We homeschool so mornings aren’t our most rushed time. Afternoons and evenings are our busiest times of the day. All 3 of my children are very involved in sports and the youth group so there is always some place to be. This can make dinnertime rushed! To make preparing meals easier. I brown and freeze hamburger meat and boil, shred and freeze chicken when I bring it home from the store. I do this every week or two so that I have the messy part of the meal done on those busy afternoons/evenings.
Thank you so much for your daily devotionals. They really encourage me.
Thank you for this post..I have gravitated toward getting healthy making steel cut oatmeal a major change in my routine but it has been challenging to get the oatmeal cooked before we have to get out the door for work/school. This crock-pot oatmeal recipe is a gift..thank you..! Today has been a day of blessings in disguise. Our God is ever-faithful even when I am not so faithful.
I love all of the amazing organizing tips, I have already used the folder tip for my kids and it has helped so much. All the encouraging verses help day to day. Thank you, Felicia Trone
My two children are grown and married. They have children of their own. My daughter-in-law home schools three, one in third, one in first, and one in prekindergarten. My daughter is a kindergarten teacher at a private school. Her two children are in third grade and kindergarten. When school starts I say a prayer throughout the day for all my grandchildren and their parents. I still have moments when I have to remember that my Heavenly Father is always there. I get pictures from each of the grandchildren and put the newest one on the refrigerator. I like the folder idea. I can save the others in a folder and when they graduate from high school make a book to give them.