Surviving September | A blog by Dr Lesley Hamill
"Fellow postdoc parents. I see you. I hear you. September is only 30 days long and we won’t go down (like the Big Ship on the Alley Alley Oh). Peace and solidarity."
I love the summer.
But, after getting through 8.5 weeks of school holidays every single year, I find myself more than ready for the return of our routine. Ah, sweet routine.
Oh joy, September incoming.
The nights are beginning to draw in, the air is crisp, the uniforms are ironed for the only time they will experience that this academic year and for a glorious 48 hours I bask in silence, until.…
WHAM.
Incoming admin avalanche.
Emails
Texts
WhatsApps
School apps demanding log ins which I haven’t used since…um…last September
Crumpled notes in new school bags needing a signature
Afterschool clubs that need to be booked yesterday
Frantically adding dates to a 2026 diary that I don’t even own yet
Backing books like it’s 1999 (as I quietly thank the interior design gods that wallpaper has come back into fashion in such a big way)
The summer haze is now a distant memory and honestly, I miss it already.
Anyhow.
I recently attended the QUB Staff Wellbeing training on ‘Helping with Homework’. Delivered by the brilliant Lauren (Education and Training Co-ordinator) from Parenting Focus (https://www.parentingfocus.org/) it was a welcome pause.
In just 1-hour, Lauren calmed rising nerves and provided some excellent tips on how to handle this madness that is homework.
Sanity-Saving Homework Tips:
- Feed them a nutritious snack before beginning (chocolate bars don’t count).
- Establish a clear homework routine. Write it out and stick it somewhere everyone can see it (door, fridge, forehead).
- Create a distraction free zone (including all phones).
- Short bursts: 10 minutes of work then 10 minutes break.
- Stay calm.
- Praise and encourage.
- Support them to learn from their mistakes.
Remember.
Homework teaches responsibility and independence but also challenges your child. The work they are doing at home is important and you have the privilege of seeing what they are learning in school and letting them know that you care about it.
A final note.
Fellow postdoc parents. I see you. I hear you. September is only 30 days long and we won’t go down (like the Big Ship on the Alley Alley Oh). Peace and solidarity. ✌️
