GIVEAWAY!! Jo Piazza recently sent me a DM that said, “I have a fun witchy feminist book for you. Want a copy?” I immediately replied, “YES!” and have been devouring Siren Says. The book fully lives up to Jo’s description and I’m excited to giveaway a copy of the book to one of you! To enter the giveaway, drop in the comments what household task you’d use magic for. Open to US readers only. Sorry rest of the world.
My friend and fabulous bestselling author Jo Piazza, who somehow manages to write the book of the summer every summer (check out her latest book The Parisian Heist, and the delightful Yesteryear alternative Everyone Is Lying to You), also writes the incredible Substack Over the Influence. She recently asked me to share some of my best tips for making the back-to-school season a little easier, and I’m excited to share my list of “12 things that actually help” here with you too!
I saw a post on Threads that asked, “Why do teachers all say year X completed?” I’m not sure there’s one definitive answer, but the replies were as wild as what you’d expect from Threads.
Maybe teachers count the years because the job is difficult. Maybe it’s because every August and September feels like a fresh start. Or maybe it’s because, despite how essential teachers are, the profession is still too often undervalued.
Whatever the reason, as a teacher, I know I’m on “year 18 completed”.
I’m also a dad to three daughters, so back-to-school season isn’t just something I experience at work. This year my oldest daughter is starting middle school, my middle daughter is entering fourth grade, and my youngest daughter is beginning first grade.
Over the years, between teaching in New York City, raising three kids, and writing as “Tidy Dad” online, I’ve learned a few things about not just surviving this season, but surthriving it.
So, how can you “tidy up” the back-to-school season? Here are 12 things to consider.
The first six to eight weeks of a new school year are an adjustment for everyone. Everything feels new, because it is new. Even if your child isn’t starting school for the first time, they likely have a new teacher, new classmates, new expectations, and a new routine. Give yourself and your family permission to transition. October almost always feels better. (I share more about this “season” mindset in Tidy Tidbits Episode #70)
I say this jokingly, but only partly. My own children attend the school where I teach, so technically I’m paying off my coworkers. A little appreciation goes a very long way. It doesn’t need to be expensive. A $5 coffee gift card. A pack of nice pens. A candy bar.
Teachers appreciate knowing that someone sees them as human beings.
Straight from the Tidy Toolkit as a free download: Use this “My Teacher’s Favorites” list to inspire small gift giving opportunities throughout the year!
At the beginning of the school year, everyone is figuring things out. Schools are getting back up and running after summer break. Teachers are building out new classroom routines. Your child is likely exhausted and may not be interested in telling you all the little details of what happened.
That doesn’t mean you should ask the teacher instead. Try not to overwhelm the teacher with questions those first couple of weeks. If you pick your child up, do not expect a personal update each day. Give everyone a little grace. By week two or three, things usually become clearer.
After spending all day learning, listening, making decisions, and navigating friendships, your kids may not have the emotional energy for deep conversations or imaginative playtime.
We often watch something together in the evening, like a baking competition show, American Ninja Warrior, or another family favorite. It’s less about the screen and more about creating a shared moment that helps everyone decompress. The conversations usually happen later.
By Friday, adults and kids are tired. I don’t want to cook. My kids don’t want to try a new recipe. Pizza and a movie become something everyone can count on. Bonus points: we walk from our NYC apartment to the pizza shop and eat there so that we have to literally do ZERO dishes.
Personally, I don’t want to do much socially during September or early October unless it’s something I’m genuinely excited about. Ask yourself: What can wait? This season doesn’t need more commitments. It needs more margin. Especially those first few weekends.
It’s easy to criticize the teacher. The school. The other parents. The classmates. Even your own kid. Instead, stay curious before becoming critical. You can ask questions, but try to assume good intentions. Everyone is adjusting and is generally trying to do their best.
If I could pick one routine to focus on during the back-to-school season, this would be it. Ask your family, “How can we make mornings a little smoother?” For us, that was moving socks to a basket by the door. Once you’re out the door on time, the entire day feels more manageable. More on how to problem solve this routine in Tidy Tidbits Episode #72)
Make a list of things you don’t care about right now. Maybe it’s that the house isn’t spotless. Maybe dinner comes from the freezer or a delivery person. Maybe you skip a few activities. Declutter your expectations for yourself and the people you live with. You cannot do everything.
Your kids will probably tantrum. They’ll complain. They’ll argue. They’ve spent all day holding it together at school. Home is often where those emotions finally come out. Expect it.
As adults, we’re not that different. We hold ourselves together all day too and deal with cranky coworkers who are also navigating back to school season or don’t understand it.
You can’t control your child’s emotions. You can only control how you respond to them.
When you’re buying school lunch supplies and after-school snacks, grab a treat for yourself too. Put them somewhere where your kids can’t find them, and then enjoy them once they’re asleep.
School is important, but school won’t solve every problem or teach every life skill.
Take your kids to museums. Travel when you can. Teach them to cook. Invite them into household chores. Let them see you read, create, exercise, rest, and pursue hobbies too.
So there you have it: twelve back-to-school ideas that may feel a little unconventional.
It’s about lowering expectations in healthy ways, accepting that things are going to feel chaotic, extending a little more grace, and trusting that your family will find its rhythm.
Remember to keep calm and tidy on.
Links Worth a Click:
-NYT Feature: In This Housing Market, The Second Home Comes First
-I’ve been using these rhinestones to bedazzle anything and everything.
-I drink this every morning before I workout!
-A backpack with pockets in all the right places. (We’ve also been using their duffel bag backpacks for travel for years. Use code TIDYDAD for 15% off an order of bags!)
-Our family’s favorite new game of the summer!
-Not just a game for kids: learn-to-play Chess and a mini travel size magnetic board
Tidy Tidbits is my weekly micro-podcast with short, practical episodes you can listen to while walking the block, making coffee, folding laundry, or doing school drop-off. You can listen on Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, or Substack!
Here are the episodes that dropped last month:
I’m taking you into bath-time chaos and sharing why our family created Shower School, a simple system for teaching kids how to actually get themselves clean!
I’m joined by bestselling author Jo Piazza to celebrate the release of her newest novel, The Parisian Heist. Our conversation starts with a simple question: Is it ever okay to steal?
I’m joined by host of the Second Home First podcast, Katie Cline. We talk about the realities of owning and managing short-term rental properties.
I’m joined by Dean Pohlman, founder of Man Flow Yoga, to talk about the benefits of morning yoga, improving mobility, building strength, and creating a sustainable fitness routine.
A few new podcast interviews featuring yours truly:
Second Home First (Katie Cline): The Email That Landed Second Home First in The New York Times
Declutter Your Chaos (Amber Cammidge): Conversation with Tyler Moore, The Tidy Dad
Minimalist Moms (Diane Boden): What Living Small Has Taught Me About Living Well
Reading With Your Kids (Jed Doherty): Just Enough: The Tidy Dad’s Philosophy for Stuff, Space, and Sanity
Some articles in Real Simple, Martha Stewart, and The Spruce, with tips from me!
-Why Your Home Always Feels More Cluttered in Summer—and 7 Easy Ways to Fix It
-6 Quick Home Refreshes You Can Do Today for a Brighter, More Inviting Space
-Want a More Organized Fridge? A Pro Organizer Says Start With These 3 Tricks
-Books, Records, and DVDs Are Cool Again—Here’s How to Store Your Collection Without Creating Clutter
-Martha Stewart: 6 Ways to End Food Container Chaos (and Lost Lids) for Good
This month, as we transition from summer to fall routines, we’re tackling three clutter zones that fill up fast: fall clothing, seasonal gear, and school supplies. These 10-minute decluttering tasks are inspired by my decluttering calendar, which is straight from my book Tidy Up Your Life. You don’t need a full home overhaul to make a big impact. Just a timer, a category, and a little momentum.
Want to make your own? Download a blank Decluttering Calendar PDF HERE.
It’s almost layering season, which means it’s time to make space before the sweaters come out.
🕒 10-Minute Tasks:
Closet Check-In: Go through each child’s (and your own!) fall and winter clothing. Toss anything with holes, set aside what’s too small, and note what needs replacing.
“Try-On” Stack: Create a pile for kids to try on, like jackets, pants, or shoes. Make it a mini fashion show if it helps!
Bins + Labels: Pull out cold-weather bins. Label by size, season, or kid. Make swaps easy so you’re not digging later.
Umbrellas, boots, lunchboxes, oh my! Fall gear tends to explode near entryways. Time to zone it out.
🕒 10-Minute Tasks:
Entryway Sweep: Clear out sandals, sunscreen, and beach gear. Replace with boots, hats, and umbrellas.
Backpack + Bag Refresh: Check zippers and straps. Wipe down lunch bags and restock water bottles. Replenish hand sanitizer and tissues.
Zone + Contain: Set up a fall gear zone near the door: a hook for each backpack, a bin for hats and gloves, and a tray for wet shoes.
Back-to-school doesn’t mean you have to buy it all again. A quick supply check can save you time and money.
🕒 10-Minute Tasks:
The Great Pencil Roundup: Gather writing supplies and art supplies from drawers, backpacks, and under the couch. Sharpen what’s good. Toss what’s not.
Restock Essentials: Check folders, notebooks, glue sticks, scissors, and headphones. Do you have enough? Too much? Are there things you could donate to a teacher in your life? What actually needs to go on the shopping list?
Create a Homework Station: Set up a small bin or caddy with basic supplies. Keep it portable and easy to access, especially if space is tight.
Label Now, Not Later: Use a label maker, painter’s tape, or permanent marker to label lunchboxes, water bottles, and anything else that likes to disappear.
Happy Quarter 3 (July–September)! Whether you live in an apartment, a house, a castle, or somewhere in between, these maintenance tasks are a great place to start. Bonus: they spell out Tidy Dad! 🤣
Tidy up summer supplies (sunscreen, bug spray, beach towels, etc.)
Inspect air-conditioning units, clean or replace filters, check airflow
Dust and deep clean your grill, outdoor cooking spaces, outdoor furniture
Yearly deck or balcony maintenance, check for wear, clean, and reseal
Deep clean your water heater to remove sediment buildup
Assess plantings, check for dead branches or over-growth, and trim
Declutter summer gear and consider storing extra summer items in your car
What To Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking: Make it Fast - Figuring out what to cook when you don’t feel like cooking is a universal conundrum. Caro Chambers’ first cookbook was wonderful and this one is too. The meals are organized into 15-minute, 30-minute, and “walk away” recipes and every one we’ve tried has been a winner. Our family favorite so far is the chicken parm meatballs with broccoli pasta.
Special note: A friend recommended a book with some combination of the words “house” and “guest” in the title, but I couldn’t remember the exact name. So naturally, I ended up reading two books with very similar titles. I’m still not sure which one they actually recommended!
The House Guests - A young woman grapples with the death of her mother while being stranded by her boyfriend at a lake house in the Catskills with his friends for the week. When a series of weird and mysterious things start happening, she becomes convinced there’s an uninvited house guest just waiting to kill. Twisted, delusional, and increasingly unsettling, this one had me saying, “Are you serious?” at the ending.
The House Guest - Mystery meets deception meets love triangle with a culinary twist. This haunting, fast-paced read is filled with psychological twists and turns, and a very satisfying murder. It’s a great beach read. I liked this one best of the two.
Lessons in Chemistry - This was a delightful read with characters you actually want to root for! How refreshing. The main character, Elizabeth Zott, is a chemist who unexpectedly finds herself in a television studio as a TV chef, speaking directly into the lives of the 1960s housewives watching her program each day. The book explores deeply rooted ideas about masculinity and femininity, and what happens when we dare to challenge societal norms. Smart, funny, and heartfelt. I loved this book.
Wondering what else I’ve read this year? Here’s the full list!
In Tidy Up Your Life, I talk about joy plotting, taking a few minutes to anticipate moments of joy in the week or month ahead. It’s a simple practice worth trying!
Here’s what’s on my joy plotting list for August:
Bermuda - Emily and I are off to Bermuda for a kid-free trip to celebrate her 40th birthday! We’re looking forward to a few days of sun and time together. It’s our first trip to Bermuda, and we can’t wait to explore the island and see what it has to offer.
Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip - Judge away. I am absolutely loving the 20th anniversary celebration of all things Real Housewives. The show follows a group of Housewives OGs across the country as they revisit the people, places, and moments that made the franchise so iconic.
From the Cottage to NYC - We’re wrapping up our summer at our cottage in Pennsylvania and looking ahead to the start of a new school year in NYC. We made a quick trip home earlier this month, and it reminded us just how much we love the city. The quiet of the cottage, the energy of NYC, we truly get the best of both worlds.
Marathon Training - Triathlon and open-water swimming season are officially behind me, and training for the Philadelphia Marathon has begun! I’ve been working with my trainer to strengthen my knee after my April marathon, and I’m feeling ready to build back up. I’m excited to see how this training season unfolds and where all those miles take me.
🧺 If you enjoyed this free newsletter and want MORE, order my book Tidy Up Your Life, and consider becoming a paid subscriber to “The Tidy Times” on Substack! You’ll get full access to my exclusive Behind the Stories articles and the Tidy Toolkit resources. It’s $5/month or $50/year and helps keep the tidying (and storytelling) going.
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