3 ways to make ‘drop off and pick up’ precious times in the term ahead

Here we are again, ready for the mayhem that is getting kids ready for the school day! I want to focus in on those key moments of drop off and pick up. They can happen in a flash (quick, get out of the car, I can’t stop here!) to - suddenly, you are surplus to requirements, “Dad, I can walk from here myself, I’m in Year 5, I’m practically a grown up.” Yet, as I reflect back over the years, the most significant moments can happen at these routine daily moments of departure and arrival. I’ve noticed three things (yes, the classic three things!) that tend to enable me to notice what is happening and be thankful I’m there.

1. Prayerful. The start of an academic year might be when we are most actively prayerful about our childrens school life - will they get on with their new class teacher? This year, please God, can they make friends with kind children? Or, during the big transitions stages - starting school, KS1 to KS2, the huge jump to Secondary School. Yet, prayerful attention during the whole year matters. Sometimes things that are challenging or tricky for our children don’t surface for a while - half way through a term, or just as they are approaching a break from school. I had to learn to invite my children into my prayer life for them. Do I ask them regularly what I can be praying for? What is tricky that we need to ask Jesus to help with, what situation needs God’s wisdom? Also, knowing that God is as interested in the mundane ordinary things as well as the huge stuff. “What can we pray for today?” This question is sometimes met with a look, or silence, but other times a stream of thought comes out because mentioning praying has opened up what might on our child’s mind that they are worrying about or overthinking - and we can bring that to God together. But we won’t be able to do this without regularly punctuating the week with moments where we pray and invite them to join in. All this can happen at drop off - and, conversely, what can we celebrate today, where did you see God at work type conversations can be part of pick up.