“I have to get my baby ready for the first day. I need to figure out how I’m going to get him to practice. I have to work around her therapy schedule because she can’t miss those. But that doesn’t work with my work schedule. And I can’t get in trouble at work. Oh, and I forgot about that! How am I going to make all of this work? I have so much to do, and everything is so important.”

And then, in the middle of the mental chaos, comes the moment when you realize: if I don’t slow down and breathe, none of it is going to get done.  Take a breath and maybe you’ll need to take another one. Sometimes, the most important thing on your back-to-school checklist is you.

 

To all the moms who have spent these last six weeks loving, caring for, feeding, transporting, entertaining, comforting, encouraging, and keeping your babies thriving, kudos to you; you are valuable.  On behalf of educators everywhere, thank you.  Thank you for the countless hours you have poured into your children this summer. Thank you for the appointments, the practices, the therapy sessions, the summer camps, the late nights, the early mornings, the snacks packed and unpacked, the schedules coordinated, and the million tiny decisions nobody else sees.  We know that caring for a child is not a six-hour-a-day job.  It is 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year commitment.

 

While your child has been in your care this summer, educators have spent these past weeks preparing to welcome them back, analyzing data, participating in professional learning, strengthening our practice, earning certifications, collaborating, planning, and building the 2026–27 school year with intention.  Now, as you prepare to hand them back to us, I want you to remember something.  You do not have to have everything figured out before the first day of school.  You don’t have to make the morning perfect.  You don’t have to buy every single thing on the supply list in one trip.  You don’t have to create a picture-perfect back-to-school experience.  Instead, let backpack shopping be fun.  Let your child pick the shoes, even if you question their fashion choices.  Laugh when they choose something you never would have picked.  Ask them who they think is cool.  Listen to what they say.  Take a selfie with them.  Hold their hand as you enjoy an ice cream.  One day, sooner than you think, that little tiny hand won’t be the hand reaching for yours.  They will be walking through those school gates on their own.  So for now, be present.  When you hand your baby over to their educators, whether through physical school doors or the digital doors of a new learning environment, give your educational team a reasonable measure of trust.

 

Please begin the year assuming that educators are going to get it right. Collaborate with your child’s school team over a conversation, coffee or even an apple asking, “How can we work together?” Educators aren’t perfect. Parents aren’t perfect. Children certainly don’t need either of us to be. They need us to be a team.

 

Moms, if your child has specialized needs, I am speaking directly to you, too. Actually, especially you. I know your fears can feel different. You’ve probably had to advocate harder. Ask more questions. Attend more meetings. Read more reports. Learn acronyms you never knew existed. Fight battles you never imagined you’d have to fight. So I am not asking you to stop advocating. I am asking you to leave room for collaboration. Open your ears to hear the possibilities for your child’s growth. Clear your eyes enough to see that your child is going to grow, whether you’re ready for every change or not. Open your heart to the possibility that someone else may have an idea that helps your child in a way you didn’t expect. When the educators bring you a win.  Rejoice with us.  That little milestone that may seem small to someone else? We know. We know what it took to get there. Moms, you know too.

 

Before the schedules, the therapy appointments, the practices, the meetings, the work deadlines, the school drop-offs, the IEPs, the lunches, the homework, and everything else begin, take a pause. Look at your baby and give them a hug that lasts a little longer than usual. Then take one more breath.  You have spent your summer caring for them. Now let us help you carry them forward. This year, don’t just prepare your child for school. Instead, prepare yourself to let them grow.

 

Mom’s please do not forget that when it feels like everything is important, remember that you are first on the list. So, to Moms everywhere, slow life down for a second and BREATHE.

 

Marvel in Motherhood!

 

Sincerely,

 

Precious Young 

@erinshugsfoundation

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Precious Young is an accomplished education leader with a lifelong commitment to building systems that truly serve students, families, and educators. She brings decades of experience across every level of public education—classroom instruction, school leadership, district administration, and executive oversight—paired with advanced credentials, including an MPA, MS, MA, and designation as a Certified Chief Business Official (CCBO). This combination of practice and preparation gives her a deep, practical understanding of how policy, finance, and people intersect to drive meaningful outcomes.

Throughout her career, Precious has guided schools and districts through complex challenges, strengthened accountability, and led sustainable improvement efforts rooted in clarity and purpose. As both a seasoned professional and a parent, she approaches educational leadership with a long-term, values-driven lens—prioritizing access, equity, and integrity while honoring the real lives behind the data. Education is not simply her field of expertise; it is the work of her life.

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