Menu Planner Week of September 5th

This week, my feeds on social media were flooded with beautiful back to school photos. The kids looked sharp with freshly cut hair, new outfits, and shiny shoes. The smiles ranged from excited to annoyed to well, nervous. It’s an exciting time for both kids and parents and these precious photos mark the passage of time.

At a birthday luncheon today, a friend shared the experience of her daughter’s first week of middle school. She talked about how tired her daughter is each day after school. It made me think about how much these kids are processing each day during these first few weeks. Some kids are fumbling with locker combinations for the first time, looking for the bathroom in their new school, or just figuring out where to sit at lunch. Aside from the stress of academics, the beginning of the school year can be emotionally draining.

With both kids back in school next week, this conversation was a reality check for me about what the next few weeks will be like in my house. My game plan is to be supportive, patient, and mindful of the changes my kids are experiencing. Jake is starting high school and Lily is going into her final year of elementary school. They may be growing up so fast but at the end of the day, they are just kids trying to figure everything out.

My meals this week are the perfect antidote to these busy back to school days. Trust me, each night is so good you will be hoping for leftovers for lunches. Check out dinner recipes for Zucchini Parmesan Casserole, Carne Asada Tacos, Fish with Summer Vegetables, and the most perfect Pasta with Tomatoes and Herbs.

Enjoy!