For parents who are sending their kids back to school, it can feel like quite an accomplishment when they see the little ones head off on their first day.
No matter how old they are, it's always a big deal to see your kiddos start a new school year — and parents often want to celebrate the excitement at the end of the week.
Jen Hatmaker, a mom of five, thinks that making big plans after the first day of school isn't a good idea, though.
In a recent Facebook post, Jen explained that the only thing parents should plan for their kids to do after the beginning of the new school year is nothing.
That's right, nothing.
Jen, who used to be a teacher, understands just how exhausting the first week of school can be — both for teachers and kids.
When she shared her post on Facebook, people everywhere loved what she had to say.
[H/T: ScaryMommy]
Jen's post quickly went viral. As soon as she posted it, people started commenting, reacting, and sharing.
In less than 10 days, the post had over 48,000 reactions, and over 17,000 shares.
Jen wrote:
Dear ones, this is my yearly PSA because I am here for you and sometimes we forget things:
By the end of your cherubs' first week of school, they are:
D
O
N
E.
Listen to me: do not go to “celebration dinner” Friday night, do not go to the late football game, do not decide to run errands, do not make big plans, do not ask one million questions, do not force them to talk about everything, do not attempt to execute ANYTHING AT ALL in which your expectations include children who are pleasant.
They are like overfilled balloons. Should you accidentally push them too hard by, for example, asking them to chew with their mouths closed or making suggestions for dinner or any other unreasonable pressure, they will violently burst and ruin the thing you were dumbly considering as a Fun Family Situation.
Your Friday night plans after the first week of school need to involve a couch, some blankets, a pizza, and a movie. That is it. That is all anyone can handle.
Your kid will make it past the first twenty minutes tops. They are all goners. Do not put them in the car and try to go somewhere, because they will turn your car into the Crazy Train.
Ditto: Saturday morning plans.
Ditto: That whole first weekend.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it because you are a Smart Person, is to do and plan nothing the first weekend after school starts. Let their little bodies catch up. They are exhausted after their summer of being sloth children who now have to think and pay attention for seven hours a day.
Plus, first week of school emotions. Plus, change. Plus, new scenarios and teachers and students and schedules. Plus, that one mean girl. Plus, figuring out where to sit at lunch. Plus, all the new rules. Plus, recess politics.
Plus, homework. Plus, did their clothes/shoes/hair/backpack fit in right. Plus, the bus. Plus, they learned the F word on the playground and everything feels weird.
Trust your friend Jen: couch, blanket, pizza, movie. That’s your weekend plan. Cancel everything else. You’re welcome.
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