WHAT’S UP

When the Sunday paper feels 4 pounds heavier, when the day camps

are running out of field trip destinations and when you feel about 20

years older than you are, it can only mean one thing: It’s back-to-school

time.

Everyone and his brother is busy cashing in on the back-to-school

bucks. The massive amounts of print ads inserted into the Sunday paper,

offering everything from school uniforms to the new line of Pokemon

clothing, may be good for the economy, but it’s murder on my back.

Kids are always taken care of this time of year. Now, it’s parents I’m

concerned about. Parents need back-to-school help, too. So, in that

spirit, I have worked up this list of back-to-school “to dos” for

parents:

* Talk to your boss. If you’re a working parent, make this the year

you make some minor schedule changes so that you can see more of your

kids during the week. Discuss with your boss your need to be more of a

presence in your child’s life and see if you can squeeze in an occasional

lunch hour trip to school to volunteer in class or just have lunch with

your kid. Having been on both sides of the desk, I believe you’ll find

this conversation with your boss easier than you thought. Note to bosses:

If you respond to a request for the occasional long lunch hour by saying

“If I make an exception for you, I have to make an exception for

everyone,” you’re on the right track.

* Introduce yourself to teachers and the principal. On the first day of

school, make yourself known to these very important people in your

child’s life. Most of them will spend more time with your child each week

than you will. Most of them will assume the role of parent because in

many cases we’ve abdicated it. These are people you should know.

* Change the TV rules. There is no time like the start of the school year

to make a clean break from bad television habits. It’s not so much the

amount of television, although I believe less could never hurt, it’s the

timing. No TV until homework is done. No TV during dinner and no TV if no

one is watching. If you absolutely cannot miss your favorite program, ask

a 10-year-old how to program your VCR and tape the show to watch after

the kids are asleep.

* Establish firm homework rules. Kids look at homework as a chore, often

because they have to do it alone while everyone else is doing something

fun like the laundry or paying the bills. Get involved in the homework

process by making yourself available for help. In our house, the kids do

their homework in the kitchen while dinner is being made. It may seem

like the commotion is not conducive to studying, but it works for us.

We’re right there to answer questions or talk about anything interesting

the kids are studying. I know you don’t want to get involved with

homework but neither do your kids, and they do it anyway.

* Start a “secret word” routine. When I was about 9, I started reading

the dictionary. Each day, I’d look up one new word and memorize the

meaning and spelling. It was then my challenge to use the word in a

sentence at least once that day. I know it doesn’t show, but that routine

made a big difference in my education. Make this a family affair and keep

it fun.

* Rearrange your priorities. This year, resolve to alter your perception

of school, your life, money and your family. Contrary to what you may

believe, school is not a baby sitter to be used while you go to work to

earn money. School is actually the place that is the launching pad for

your child’s success. Ask yourself if you’ve treating it as such. This

year, you can do the minimum and buy the new clothes and backpack. Or you

can do a lot more and treat yourself to some fabulous changes that may

mean a dramatic improvement in your child. Remember, if you’re not

excited about school, don’t expect your kid to be.

STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and free-lance writer. He can be

reached at (949) 642-6086 or by e-mail at o7

dailypilot@earthlink.net.f7