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How to Emotionally Prepare for Back To School

How to Emotionally Prepare for Back To School

Advice from Good Inside’s Dr. Becky Kennedy, shared with the Monica + Andy community.

Back-to-school season often brings a swirl of emotions—for both kids and parents. Whether it's separation anxiety, new routines, or the bittersweet feeling of summer ending, the transition is rarely just logistical.

At an event hosted by Monica + Andy, bestselling author and clinical psychologist Dr. Becky Kennedy shared how to emotionally prepare for what’s ahead—and how to support our kids without losing ourselves in the process.

Her biggest piece of advice? Change your mindset.

It’s not you vs. your child. It’s you and your child vs. the hard thing.

Whether your child is melting down about putting on their shoes or worried about making friends, the first step is connection—not correction. That might sound like:

  • It’s okay to feel nervous. I feel that way sometimes, too.
  • I believe you.
  • We’re on the same team. Let’s figure out what might help.

These simple words tell your child: your feelings are safe with me. And over time, they’ll internalize that safety as self-confidence.

Dr. Becky also shared this powerful reminder: you don’t need to do everything.

What if one mindset shift was enough? Just one thing that brings you and your child closer—that’s the kind of shift that changes everything.

As you prepare for the school year ahead, remember that it’s not about perfection. It’s about presence. One steady, emotionally available parent makes a world of difference—and you’ve got that covered.

That first day of school or daycare can feel like a big leap for both of you. The right gear helps you step into it with confidence. At Monica + Andy, we create everyday essentials that are soft against baby’s skin, built for the bustle of life, and cute enough to save for the scrapbook.

Our Back to School Edit has daycare-ready one-pieces, picture day outfits, and more—pieces that help make every morning a little easier, and a little more magical.

 

Dr. Becky Kennedy is a clinical psychologist, mom of three, and founder of Good Inside. Early in her career, she followed the traditional behavior-first, reward-and-punishment approach to parent coaching. But over time, she noticed something important: those methods didn’t feel good—for kids or for parents.

Determined to find a better way, Dr. Becky drew on her expertise in attachment, mindfulness, emotion regulation, and internal family systems theory to create a new, compassionate framework for parenting. Today, she helps parents feel sturdy and confident while raising kids who feel seen, understood, and deeply connected.

 

 

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