Every August, kids get ready for a fresh year of school. Some are excited; some are not. Soon, there will be new classes, new teachers, new friends, and new opportunities. For a lot of kids, a new year represents a chance to start over.

I have often described hope with a simple formula: Hope = Desire + Expectation. You have to want something, but you also have to believe you can have it. Desire without expectation becomes frustration. Expectation without desire is just wishful thinking. But when you put the two together, you get hope.

August has a way of changing the rhythm of an entire household. Backpacks come out of closets, lunchboxes return to the kitchen counter, bedtimes start creeping earlier, and calendars fill with events, appointments, and reminders.

A new school year often brings excitement, but for some children, the first days of school also bring an unexpected sense of loss. A best friend from last year may have moved away or simply be in a different class. A favorite teacher may no longer be at the school. A sibling may have headed off to college, transitioned to another foster placement, or returned home, leaving the child behind to adjust to life without them nearby. Hardest of all, a child may be separated from a parent or grieving the death of a grandparent or another special person.

As students across North Texas prepare to return to class, school zones will soon become busy again with buses, car lines, walkers, bicycles, e-bikes, and scooters. Even if you do not have a child returning to school, everyone on the road has a role in helping students arrive safely.

Slow Down in School-Zones

School-zone speed limits may be active only during certain hours, often indicated by flashing lights or posted signs. Pay close attention, reduce your speed promptly, and avoid assuming a school zone is inactive simply because you do not immediately see children.

There’s something quietly powerful about sitting at a table with children, supplies scattered around, and working on something together. No screens. No pressure to be perfect. Just hands busy, imaginations flowing, and connection happening almost without trying.

Attachment is the emotional bond that helps children feel safe, secure, and confident in their relationships with caring adults. It develops when children experience consistent, responsive care and know they can rely on the adults in their lives. 

While cooking usually falls on Mom or Dad’s “plate,” what if kids were invited into the kitchen in a more meaningful way? In recent years, kid-focused meal kit subscriptions have grown in popularity. After all, they help put dinner on the table, and they turn cooking into a shared activity and learning experience. While those kits offer convenience and creativity, they often come with a hefty price tag.

Creating Safe Spaces

Every November, Child Safety and Protection Month reminds us to look around our homes, schools, and communities with a fresh set of eyes. We’re encouraged to check smoke alarms, replace worn-out outlet covers, talk about online safety, and keep cleaning supplies out of reach. These are simple but powerful ways to prevent accidents and protect the children we love.

But safety goes deeper than locks, helmets, and gates. True safety means more than protecting a child’s body. It’s also about protecting their heart, their innocence, their childhood.

Livestock barns have a smell all their own. The mixture of hay, sawdust, and manure, combined with the naturally pungent odor of goats, pigs, cattle, and sheep, creates an aroma that clings to your nostrils and doesn’t easily go away—even with multiple grills cooking hamburger meat and wieners nearby. Once you get past the ripeness of the barn, though, the spectacle of boots, hats, and showmanship is entertaining. Watching an eighteen-year-old veteran of stock shows expertly guide a pig past a judge while using a short stick to keep the porker’s head up is impressive.

I absolutely loved back-to-school time when my kids were growing up. Yes, I am a weird dad, and I enjoyed going clothes shopping and supply gathering. What could be better than helping them find the perfect first-day ensemble by throwing outfit after outfit over the dressing room door of Old Navy? I had my own collection of OPI nail colors, complete with bottom coats and topcoats (as a daddy of four girls, I had to find a way to save money).