Just waiting for the recording to start. Obviously, if you can just try and block the mess somehow on the ground, that would be really good. I am slowly getting it organized, believe it or not. But now I'm bringing everything home from the office. I got more crap laying around, but that's all right. Come on. Sorry, it started. Quick public service announcement for separate or separating parents as school starts to go back. This isn't legal advice, it's just the patterns I see every year once the backpacks come out and the routines change. My name is Stacey Munzenberger and thank you for listening to the Stacey M Show. if you're not sure and it's the first time you have checked in i'm actually going through your treatment for cervical cancer so i'm keeping this podcast a little bit short i am surviving only on a a couple of hours of sleep at the moment but i wanted to make sure i got a new podcast out uh because i know one of my kids goes to school uh back to school this week so It's just a quick one to give you some pointers just as school starts to go back. So if you know someone that is going through a separation or family matter or whatever you want to call it, please make sure you share this with them because it helped them on the day. So first thing is routine beats perfection. So right now, your kids probably don't need the perfect schedule or the perfect co-parenting arrangement. They just need something that is predictable. So same drop-off day, same pickup plan, same expectations, even if it's not ideal, even if it's temporary. And obviously all of this stuff sits underneath any compliance with parenting orders or agreements that are already in place. Please make sure that you don't breach those. Having a routine tells your kids that they're safe. So even when there's adults still trying to figure things out, there is still some sort of routine for them. Second, school is not a messenger service and we do see this all the time and it does cause issues. School bags, teachers, newsletters and kids themselves should not be used to pass messages between grown-ups. Not about money, not about time, not about disagreements, not about whatever. If something needs to be said, say it directly. and calmly to each other away from the kids. They don't need to be a part of it. It doesn't matter what age they are. Third, your child doesn't need the full story either. Kids don't need an adult version of what's happening. That's not going to serve them. They don't need timelines, expectations, explanations, who's at fault, why someone's cranky with somebody else. It's just not relevant for them. Don't drag them into it. They need one sentence they can rely on, like, both of us love you, school stays the same, you're safe, things like that. Clarity for kids comes from consistency, not detail. So a gentle reality check. If school has made things feel a little bit heavier instead of easier, that's usually a sign that something underneath needs some attention. You don't need to act today, but you are allowed to notice, especially when school is back in the next week or two. So I'm hoping that has helped you. I said just a couple of tips. I know sometimes it seems like it's... like just obvious self-explanatory but you know unfortunately that's not for everybody things slip up as well nobody's perfect there's a lot of emotions but just even following those few things um you know that's going to get you off to a good start good start See, that's how exhausted I am. Going to get you off to a good start for the school year. And the school needs to know if you have separated as well. So if you have separated over the break and the school doesn't know, it's a good idea to let them know just so they can keep an eye on the kids at school just in case something happens there. But if any questions, please reach out. I'm sorry it is a short one, but I just wanted to make sure i could get something out i'm heading towards the end of my treatment so i will be back but um yeah i've got to um just get my health back to to where it is because it's starting to catch up with me so um all the best with getting the kitties back to school i am here to help you if there's something else you want me to focus on in a little bit more detail let me know otherwise please share this with someone that uh you know that might be going through separation and make sure you subscribe so you get automatic podcast updates on a Wednesday. So take care, please be kind to yourself and thanks for listening and I'll catch you next time. Bye.
