3 WAYS TO MENTALLY PREPARE YOUR KIDS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR
It may not feel like it yet, but summer is coming to a close, and summer break is ending along with it. Soon, the kids will be back to early-morning breakfasts before the school bus arrives and late- night study sessions. Thankfully, there are some steps your family can take during these closing weeks of summer to ensure your kids hit the ground running this school year. SET AN EARLY BEDTIME For many kids, summer schedules are flexible. They may have become accustomed to sleeping in and staying up late without any obligations. Getting back into the rhythm of the school year can take some getting used to. In fact, according to psychologist Cherie Valeithian, it can take upward of two weeks to properly adjust to a new sleep-wake cycle. So why not give your kids a head start and ensure they begin the school year bright-eyed and bushy-tailed? OUTLINE A HOMEWORK SCHEDULE Resuming a homework regimen can be a difficult transition for some kids. Late summer, when they don’t have assignments to worry about yet, can
be a great opportunity to help them prepare a study schedule. Ask the following questions to help them get started: “Do you want to dive right into homework when you get home? Do you need to accommodate for a sport or extracurricular activity? Do you work best when doing your assignments in one large chunk, or would you prefer taking breaks in between assignments?” Your kids may find that last year’s schedule doesn’t work for them this year. Emphasize that this is okay; part of growing up is learning how and when you work most effectively. Don’t be afraid to help them switch things up as the school year progresses. ASK YOUR KIDS HOW THEY FEEL Maybe your kids are excited about the school year. Maybe they are anxious, or perhaps they’re just disappointed to see summer vacation come to an end. Starting a dialogue about the aspects of school your kids are looking forward to and those they’re dreading can help you dispel myths and identify problem areas. More than anything else, this can help your kids feel at ease about the coming year.
This summer, we’ve had the pleasure of Leah Corson interning here at Nixon, Vogelman, Slawsky & Simoneau. Leah is a college student and has been such a tremendous help at the office that we wanted to feature her in our newsletter. Leah learned about us through a series of connections. She attends Smith College, which is not only a partner of Nixon, Vogelman, Slawsky & Simoneau, but it’s also the same college Leslie Nixon went to. “My dad was a client here too,” she adds. “Dave Nixon took good care of him. So when I was looking for a place to intern, I asked my parents if they had any suggestions. My dad told me that I should contact the firm to see if they’d hire me as an intern.” Beginning her internship at the start of summer, Leah has been an enormous help around the office. She’s eager to learn and doesn’t hesitate to jump in when she’s needed. Throughout the summer, she’s organized a lot of necessary paperwork for our cases. “I mostly scan a lot of old files,” Leah says. “Recently, I’ve helped file wills and organize medical lists for Leslie. Mostly, I’m doing a lot of office help where I’m needed.” Leah Corson
Our Assiduous College Intern
Leah doesn’t assist us with just paperwork though. “I’ve been exposed to different cases. I’ve been able to sit in mediations, which I’ve learned a lot from.” Whether it’s working around the office or getting a little more exposure to law, she’s enjoyed her time spent at our firm. “It’s super rewarding for me to understand the process behind everything everyone here at the office is doing.” This fall, Leah will be heading back to school as a senior, which means the end of her internship with us. “My college is in Northampton, three hours away from Nixon and Vogelman,” she says. “This was just a summer internship for me, but I’ve really enjoyed my time here.” Leah plans to continue her studies during her final year at Smith College while indulging in what she loves best — skiing, hiking, and spending time with her cat, Asha.
We’re glad to have had someone as dedicated and diligent as Leah intern with us this summer, and we wish her the best of luck during her senior year.
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