Navigating School Transitions & Parenting Tips for Military Families

In the latest episode, the focus shifts from a planned book review on Dr. Aliza Pressman's parenting principles to a more relevant discussion for military families moving their kids to new schools.

Diving into personal development, I share insights from 'How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk' by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish, relating it to their own experiences and the challenges of school transitions due to military relocations.

The episode offers practical advice for organizing important documents, engaging with new communities, and utilizing resources like the Youth Sponsorship Program to ease these transitions.

 Furthermore, it highlights the importance of personal involvement in educational settings and introduces listeners to helpful tools and checklists for a smoother school switching process.

00:00 Welcome & Series Wrap-Up: Parenting Military Kids
00:33 Pivoting from Planned Book Review to New Insights
00:49 Navigating School Transitions: Resources and Personal Experiences
04:33 Deep Dive into 'How to Talk So Kids Will Listen'
07:04 Effective Communication Strategies with Kids
10:06 Preparing for School Transitions: Practical Tips and Resources
13:43 Engaging with New School Communities and Making Connections
22:44 Volunteering and Getting Involved in Your Child's School
28:33 Utilizing MSEC Resources for School Transitions
33:09 Final Thoughts and Upcoming PCS Update

Resources mentioned in todays show:

5 Princliples of Parenting book
How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk book
Binder Inserts from a military family small business  List and File
How to find a Youth Sponsorship Program near you.
Student 2 Student Program

https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63e17c34781752946ff2b424

https://www.organifishop.com/products/peak-power

Transcript

[00:00:00] Alison: Hello, hello, and welcome back to the show today. I wanted to kind of put a bow on the series that that I've been doing for the last month of April month of the military child and really focusing on parenting our military kids. And today we're going to focus on, well, my initial plan and what I had said last week or two weeks ago was that I was going to kind of do a book review on the five principles of parenting by Dr.

[00:00:31] Alison: Aliza Pressman. And what happened is I didn't care for the book. So I had to quickly change tactics. So we're going to talk about the book that I am, that I decided to read instead, which I'm a big fan of. And then we're going to talk about navigating our kids through school transitions and different resources that I have found to share with you. 

[00:00:58] Alison: Really because it's top of mind for me, because we're moving in, I don't know, cause we still don't have a place to live in Washington yet. So that's another episode. But I don't know where our kids are going to school yet. So I, but, but, but, but, but, but, but. The transition is happening. They're moving schools.

[00:01:18] Alison: They're going to be in a new school next year. And what can we do to set ourselves and our kids up to be successful through that? Okay. So from the top, let's talk about the book. So initially I was going to talk to you guys about the five principles of parenting by Dr. Aliza Pressman. She has a podcast called Raising Good Humans.

[00:01:36] Alison: We talked about it last week. two weeks ago when I was talking to Ashley from Woman and Warrior and really like the podcast. She's I highly recommend she's got a lot of really interesting topics and I like that she focuses on really being an intuitive parent and doing not necessarily it's like black or white, right?

[00:02:01] Alison: Like you have to do this. You're gonna mess up your kid or you have, right? There's, there's your, everybody's different. Your, your situation is different than your neighbor's situation and your kids are different than their kids. So not, it's not a one size fits all thing and really using your your intuition, your instinct with your kids, right?

[00:02:21] Alison: You know them better than anybody else. And so I really like that about. Her message in general. So the five principles of parenting is a good book. However, and she actually said this on an episode and that kind of gave me permission to let the book go is she said that the book is written to be used as a resource, not necessarily to read from cover to cover.

[00:02:50] Alison: So I got about halfway through the book and she was going through a section about sleep training and all this stuff. And I was like, Oh my gosh, this is not applicable to me. This is not what I'm looking for. I don't really want to read this. This is not where I'm at. And so my, Advice to you is if you are reading something, if someone recommends a book to you, like I really like personal development and I really like sharing it with you guys too.

[00:03:18] Alison: And so I like to share with you books that I've read that I really got a lot of value out of. And then you might go pick up that book and be like, wow, what was she talking about? This is awful. Because that's not been to me. Or someone's like, Oh my God, this book was amazing. It was so good. And so I get it and I'm listening to it and I'm like, This is not, this is not for me.

[00:03:38] Alison: This is not where I'm at right now. And that's okay because I feel like books and podcasts and resources come to you. And maybe this is a little woo woo, but come to you at the opportune times for you. And so if there's a book that's like, boom, you should read this book, pick it up. Maybe that's, maybe the universe is trying to tell you that this is where you need help with right now.

[00:04:00] Alison: So so the five principles of parenting is really supposed to be used as like a, Hey, this is the challenge that I'm having with my kid. Look in the index. This is where you go to go to that section and read about it and then move on. It's not designed to be read cover to cover. So I, again, I read about half of it.

[00:04:18] Alison: And then I put it down because it was not, it was not giving me the information that I wanted because where I'm at is I've got tweens going into teens and I'm not interested in sleep training anymore. That's not really where we're at. So the book that I did move on to is called how to talk. So kids will listen.

[00:04:39] Alison: And listen, so kids will talk. It's by Adele Faber and Elaine Maslish. And what's interesting is actually the book was part of a yoga class that I took. So I've, I've, I think I've shared this with you guys before, but I've got a lot of yoga training experience, probably, gosh, probably, probably pushing 400 hours of training, I would say.

[00:05:07] Alison: Yeah. And so one of the specialty tracks that I kind of took down. trauma informed yoga for kids. And that was one of the books that was recommended the how to talk. So kids will listen to listen to it. So kids will talk was recommended reading for one of those courses. And of course I didn't read it at the time, but it was on the shelf.

[00:05:29] Alison: And so I was like, Hey, I really should listen to this. And of course, I've told you guys before that I love personal development. I do not like sitting down and reading it in my hands. I need to listen to it. I listen to it while I'm driving the car. I listen to it while I'm having my walking the dogs, having my mental health walk time outside.

[00:05:47] Alison: And that's when I get that, that stuff in. So I did download it on audible. It is very easy to listen to. I'm about halfway through right now and I'm really liking it a lot. It is, There's, there's a lot of really interesting information in there where the book came from is they were doing these workshops for parents that are just having really, how do we, how exactly what the title says, how do we get our kids to listen to us and vice versus how do we get our kids to talk to us, right?

[00:06:16] Alison: Our kids just shut down. They go in their rooms, they go to their devices. They don't want to talk to us anymore. Why? I want, I want them blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, right? So they had all of these workshops and they were talking to all of these parents and they were in and then they took all of that information, all these real world examples of parents coming in.

[00:06:33] Alison: This is what's happening with my kid. And this is the strategy that they learned this week. And so this is what they went home and did and came back and told stories about what happened when they actually tried this tactic with their kid. And they give those real life examples in the book, which I found Which I find really helpful because I want to hear about a situation that a parent is going through in real time.

[00:06:55] Alison: Like this is what is happening. Oh my gosh, I don't know what to do. This is what I've been trying, right? And then they have, well, try whatever different things. So the ones that I've taken the most that I have found the most interesting and that I'm going to try to incorporate into our communication style with our kids.

[00:07:20] Alison: And this is so interesting because Ashley and I actually spent specifically talked about this two weeks ago is that we talk too much. We talk too much to our kids. We give them five minutes, 10 minutes, put your shoes on. Do you have your lunch? Do you have your water? Do you have your snacks? Constant.

[00:07:40] Alison: constant barrage of information. And so what happens is our kids stop listening because we talk all the time. So if they, if they really need to know something, we're going to raise our voice, right? We're going to, I said to do blah, blah, blah. That's when they start to pay attention and they'll pick out like one word.

[00:07:59] Alison: So I've really been trying to do that lately. . One is talking less. And then number two is giving one task at a time. It's bedtime and we have our normal routine that we go through, but you know, have you brushed your teeth? Have you picked out your clothes for tomorrow?

[00:08:19] Alison: There's a towel on the floor to blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And instead of, Oh my gosh, Sophia, you left your towel on the floor in your bedroom. Again, go pick up your towel and put it away. We don't leave towels on the floor. Or I could just say, Sophia, towel, boom. Right? I actually tried that yesterday.

[00:08:39] Alison: I'm trying really hard. It's really hard for me to say one word and then to do one thing at a time. So it was like, Sophia, did you brush your teeth? And then she, in the next like few minutes, we're working on it, goes into brush her teeth. And I wanted to say, and do blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

[00:08:56] Alison: But I know that I need to give one task at a time and then wait until that task is finished and then give another one and with as few words as possible. So that's been very interesting. The second part that I have found very interesting is. When your kid comes to you with an issue, with a problem, with a concern, our, our instinct is to fix, right?

[00:09:20] Alison: And if we don't give our kids the opportunity to flush it out on their own, They're never going to learn how to do that as an adult, right? So giving them empowering them to work through problems on their own. And I, I'm going to be, I don't know that I could give you a good example of that because I will, they give a lot of really good examples.

[00:09:44] Alison: Okay. My kid says this, this is what I'm going to say, you know, different conversations and things. And so it really makes a lot of sense in that regard. So I'm all let you listen to that book or read that book because I've, I, I'm, again, I'm halfway through highly recommend so far. Okay. Now transitioning.

[00:10:02] Alison: So those were the books that I wanted to talk to you about. So transitioning now. Okay. How can we navigate our kids through school transitions? And I want to get you guys some resources. Okay. The first thing is if you, okay, so I've talked to, the creator of list and file. I had her on the show a little while ago a while ago and she makes these binder inserts that she's a military spouse. They're stationed in Korea and she makes these binder inserts that really help you lay out and organize your paperwork. I have done one for all of our medical.

[00:10:46] Alison: I've done another one that I call for the binder and it is literally all the things it is immunization records. It is birth certificates. It's marriage certificates. It's passports. It's all of the important documents are in there and together. And again, as we're moving through a PCS, it makes it so easy to know what's important to have with you.

[00:11:12] Alison: I'm just gonna grab the binder , because it's literally got all of it in it and it's all, I just, I took, it took a little bit of time to put it together initially, but she's, the inserts tell you what you should have in there. Like there's literally like dividers, right? And so on the divider, it's like you need to have, hang on, I'll grab it.

[00:11:33] Alison: So what I can, it is on the shelf right next to me. So I can tell you what's on there. So there's a couple of different categories, right? So identity, birth certificates, driver's license, military ID, social security numbers, right? So then what I did is I went and found everybody's stuff. I got the clear sleeve page inserts and I literally just tucked everybody's stuff.

[00:11:54] Alison: So everybody's got a page in there. Then there's health stuff, which I didn't use that one because I made a separate health binder so that each one of us has our own tab with our own different stuff in it. Then there's housing, which I didn't really put a lot in the housing, but you can write your your homeowners and renters insurance, warranties, mortgage and lease agreements, things like that.

[00:12:19] Alison: And then there's a household tab. There's a legal tab. So your DD form 93 life insurance orders, powers of attorney, wills. So that's where I have all of our bursaries, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. So she literally tells you what should be. in each category. So it makes it really simple to go through and find those documents and put them all together in a nice neat order.

[00:12:42] Alison: Why I was mentioning this is because she makes education inserts as well. So then, and I am not done those yet, but I have them for the girls. I just haven't put the binders together yet, but it's. You know, if your kids on an IEP, the records, all of the different schools that they've been to, so you have all those addresses and it's just essentially having everything in one spot.

[00:13:05] Alison: So education binders are, are going to be are going to be put together. I've been saving stuff this last year because I've saved a few things as the year, but then I'm like, I don't know what to do with this stuff. So now I know what to do with it. I need to put it in a binder. So each of the girls will have their own.

[00:13:23] Alison: And I think it's gets more important. I feel like as. get older and you need to start having transcripts and you know, course descriptions and things like that, especially as you get into like middle school and high school for sure. So highly recommend the binder

[00:13:40] Alison: I'll make sure that I link that in the show notes. Okay. You have moved to your new duty station. How can we get involved and meet people at the new school. , this is really for parents, right? How can we get ourselves involved in our kids school? And then we're going to talk about a couple of ways that we can help our kids, a couple of programs that can help our kids in there as well.

[00:14:08] Alison: The first couple of things is find that if you, if you know the school that your kids are going to, we are two ish months out and we still don't know where our kids are going to go to school next year because we still don't know where we're going to live. So if you know the school that your child is going to go to follow them on social media, do they have a Facebook page?

[00:14:34] Alison: Do they have a Instagram page? Look on that. Maybe they tweet. No, it's not even tweet anymore. What's it called now? X, whatever, but go find that stuff. And then also don't forget to follow the school district as well because they'll likely have, you know, new to school resources and they might even have a section for military kid transfers.

[00:14:57] Alison: And then you can go to your new city or communities Like specialty groups, right? Like, so if your kid's a swimmer or play soccer or softball or dance or whatever, look for those communities as well and engage, right? What are people talking about? And, and just try maybe even post, right? Hey, we're going to do the area.

[00:15:19] Alison: I'm trying to decide which team would be best for my kids. Does anybody have any advice or just go through the search, right? And see what you can find that way and, and just get engaged in that, in that place. Okay. Then the next thing is the youth sponsorship program. So this was interesting. I had not heard about this one before, but so it's called the youth sponsorship program.

[00:15:46] Alison: There was a, it's a law, Title 10 U. S. Code 1785, blah, blah, blah. Directs the Secretary of Defense to require youth sponsorship programs at each military base, both CONUS and OCONUS, so they should be easy to find. So it is by law, every military base has a youth sponsorship program go to your bases home page.

[00:16:16] Alison: It's usually going to be under child or youth services. M. W. R. Fleet and family readiness programs. Each base handles registration for the youth sponsorship program individually. So activities vary from base to base. But it is exactly what it sounds like. It is matching your kid up with a military kid that lives there currently, that can kind of be their buddy and show them the ropes.

[00:16:41] Alison: This is how school works. Sit with them at lunch, right? Giving your kid a face for when they walk into school and they know not a person, right? Cause that is really, really, really hard. So by law, every base has to have this program. So it's just finding it for you. And then in real time. for us when we, when I find out, I will share with you how this, how this goes for us.

[00:17:06] Alison: Okay. And then, if you need help, again, Child and Youth Services, MWR, Fleet and Family Readiness, if and then if you need more help finding the Youth Sponsorship Program. Don't forget about your school liaison officer, right? There's a school liaison officer for every school around the military base and you can contact them.

[00:17:29] Alison: I have already spoken to one in Washington who I, I'm hoping that that's the school they're going to go to, but we don't know yet because we don't have, but, and she was very, very helpful with with different, with the questions that I had for her. So school liaison officer, is also a way to find out about the your specific basis youth sponsorship program.

[00:17:54] Alison: Okay, then after you, so that's kind of before, like as you're in the pre move cycle, right? You're going to be looking into you know, Facebook groups and things like that for your specific school, the school district, what do they have going on, things like that. And then after you arrive, Hopefully your school has back to school stuff going on, right?

[00:18:18] Alison: That's and again, if you're part of the Facebook groups and the the district, there will be putting information out on things of that nature that are happening. So and it's just, you know, again, a chance for in person introductions, ask questions and, you know, different details and things that you might have missed.

[00:18:39] Alison: So those are important to attend. Those are important to attend. And I know that they cannot be fun to put yourself out there again, especially when we have to do it over and over and over and over again. But the thing that we have to remember is that we're asking our kids to do the same thing. We're asking our kids to go make a friend, go introduce yourself to someone that looks like they're friendly.

[00:19:04] Alison: You know what I'm saying? Like we're asking our kids to do this and they're watching everything that we do. So if we're saying, Hey, you need to go, you need to be, you need to go introduce yourself to people, go put yourself out there. Yeah. But you. Mom or dad won't go and introduce yourself to other parents or go and ask a question at the PTO table or PTA table Then they're they're gonna see that.

[00:19:26] Alison: Oh, we don't do that. We have to sit back right? So you have to try to put your your insecurities. Is that the right word? I don't know. Whatever your hangups that we have, we all have them. It's okay. And really try to put yourself out there at these events and just, you know, be a good example for your kid of how can we get involved and make this a smooth transition for ourselves.

[00:19:51] Alison: So your school's PTA or PTO, whatever. I don't know why, why are some parent teacher organizations, parent teacher, associate, there's a, whatever. I don't know what the difference is. But again, they might have a newsletter that you could follow a Facebook page with and they and they're going to be really putting out the sponsored events like welcome back socials or, you know, different opportunities that you could have to meet new families and then 100 percent of 10 year kids open house or back to school night, especially if you have older kids.

[00:20:24] Alison: So then you can, you know, hopefully introduce yourself. It's really hard. I've got, I feel like, cause we weren't with Savannah. And like everybody's in their own little world. Like you're walking around with your kid and okay, we're going to go here and you're going to talk to this. Like I wasn't making eye contact or talking with other families.

[00:20:41] Alison: So that one's going to be hard. But I think it was different there because Savannah had gone to school with a lot of those kids. So it was like, Oh, okay. You know, Oh, that's so and so that's so and so it wasn't that big of a deal. But now that we're going into a brand new school where she's not going to know anybody.

[00:20:59] Alison: I'm hoping that there's going to be different opportunities for us to interact with other families and maybe, you know, start those conversations and whatnot. And another thing too is if you're going to be living on base or even you're, if you get into a neighborhood and they have a neighborhood page, you're Just put yourself out there.

[00:21:17] Alison: Hey, we just moved. I've got two kids. They're 11 and 12. They're going to be going to this school. Does anybody have any kids around the same age? I would love to get together before school starts. So they have a friendly face. Just put it out there. Right? And then on the other side of that, if you are a military family, that's been at a duty station for a year or two or three, and you see a post like that, come on, Put yourself out there.

[00:21:46] Alison: Hey, I've got kids that same age. Let's let's get them together and make that happen, right? We've got a It's hard. I know it's hard, especially as we are in this longer and longer and longer. It's like, do I really have to go and join another Facebook group and join another PTO thing? And do I have to do it?

[00:22:07] Alison: And the answer is yes, you do. And the reason why is because our kids need it. Our kids need those connections. And a lot of times we have to be the facilitator of those connections. So suck it up, buttercup. And let's do it. I'm talking to myself here. Cause I, I know it seems like I'm, I am, I'm actually, I'm an extroverted introvert.

[00:22:29] Alison: So I do really like my private space and time and quietness. But I can be outgoing when I need to be, but it is very draining for me. So I totally get it, but we have to do it for, we have to facilitate that stuff for our kids. Okay. And then if you have the opportunity, I know a lot of us are working outside of along with our, our military spouses.

[00:22:53] Alison: And so it might be hard for you to volunteer at the school or become a PTA or PTO member, but there's ways if you, if you have the time, go volunteer in your kid's school, right? You can, Be a room parent. If your kids are younger, be a room parent. You can join the PTA or PTO. And just because you join the PTA or PTO does not mean that you have to do all the events.

[00:23:17] Alison: They're not all like super clicky. And some of them are, honestly, but you also don't have to participate in that stuff. Right. But I've really, enjoyed the time where I'm in the school. I like that the people in the office know who I am and I like that I know a lot of the teachers in the school and I'm a familiar face there.

[00:23:36] Alison: It just makes me feel more connected. And then honestly, when my kids see me in school, they're so happy and they're so happy to see me, which I love. It makes me feel really good. And I think that they like knowing that, Hey, mom is here and she's involved. And again, sometimes it's not available to you and that's okay.

[00:23:54] Alison: It's not a guilt trip. It's just, if you have the opportunity, take it. Then, but I was laughing because I'm thinking that that's slowly going to be coming to an end because I'm going to have two middle schoolers now next year. And I'm sure that, Oh God, there's my mom. Don't look, don't look, don't look.

[00:24:08] Alison: It's going to, it's coming down the line. I haven't gotten there yet, but I'm sure, I'm sure it's coming. So you can, so the other options too. Okay. So room parent, PTA, PTO, you can also offer to help in the front office. I'm sure they're always looking for, you know, you can copy or answer phones or whatever, maybe start a military family support group.

[00:24:29] Alison: If there is not one for your school, there is, and I'm going to attach a couple of different, I'm sorry, not attach a link. There we go. That's the word link. A couple of websites that I found that have programs for military kids. The MSEC military child education coalition is a great place to go for different ideas in that regard.

[00:24:57] Alison: They have a couple of programs, MSEC does. One of them is called student to student, and it is a peer to peer student led program that brings military and civilian students together to welcome new students, create a positive environment for all, support educational opportunities, build connections through service in each transitions.

[00:25:20] Alison: It sounds like a great program. I could not figure out, I can't find. on there. How do you know if your school has this or not? There's not like you know, join here. There, there isn't anything like that. So I think. that you have to actually ask at your school, Hey, do you guys have a student to student program?

[00:25:42] Alison: And then if they don't, they do have on MSEC's website, they do have a place. Hey, are you interested in starting a student to student program at your school? Boom, here's, here's what you need. And you can fill out their form and get everything going in that regard. So student to student, I think to find out if your school has it, you just have to ask them.

[00:26:01] Alison: And again, if they don't, maybe look into starting one. Because, because again, this is what I like to think about. If you as the parent are stressed out about this transition for your kids, so are other parents. And if we can get there and start something to help mitigate some of the stressors for other parents coming in, like we're moving to this brand new area and my kids don't know a soul and I am Scared for them, you know what I mean?

[00:26:32] Alison: Like, hey, we have this really great program. We're going to match your kid up with another military kid that's been here for a while, and they're going to have a friend, and they're going to get introduced to other military kids, and they're going to have a place to be and a place to belong. That is a huge weight lifted off of parent's shoulders.

[00:26:49] Alison: Huge. So if you have the capacity to initiate a program like that in your school that does not have one, do it. Oh my gosh, do it. And I'm going to walk the walk, right? Like I walk it like I talk it. And so if my school that would that the girls go to does not have a program like this, I am, you bet your Bippy, I'm going to be starting it because this has been That is one of my biggest concerns of moving the girls is that they don't know anybody and that's in middle school.

[00:27:18] Alison: Oh God. Oh, you guys remember middle school and high school are awful. So anything that we can do to help our kids is we need to do that, right? Okay. Then what else can you do? Okay. So also with the school, maybe you can assist in the library. Maybe they have an art class that you can help in. Maybe your school has a community garden and you really like to garden and you can go and work in the garden.

[00:27:48] Alison: Maybe you have a hobby or expertise that you can do with the aftercare or aftercare program or a club or things like that. Right. Or. I don't know that I would do this, but a suggestion was you could be a parking attendant or a crossing guard at the school. So that's, again, it's important. It's necessary. 

[00:28:11] Alison: I can't stand, I cannot stand car loops at school. They drive me bananas. People come on. It is not hard. Why? It's not hard. I would, that would not, that would not be a good job for me, but maybe it would be for you. Maybe, maybe that would be a good job for you. Okay. . So we talked about, student to student there.

[00:28:33] Alison: So there's another program that I wanted to tell you about as well with MSEC and that is called school quest and school quest is, it's essentially an online course. portal that gives you a place so it's free and it's interactive and it's supposed to be to help, , transition as you're, going through schools and moving and things like that.

[00:29:02] Alison: And so it's essentially. virtual hub where parents and students can find, , information, tools, resources on a centralized single platform. So they've got like an academic tracker and student profile. You can set up reminders and notifications checklist, , different things like that. So that is another, again, I will link that in the show notes.

[00:29:25] Alison: So school quest is another another resource from MSEC military child education coalition. Okay. last two things that I found that again, I will link them in the show notes that MSEC had that I thought was helpful that I wanted to put out for you guys. It not, not me. I wanted to share with you guys. Thank you. Is they have a quick checklist for school moves.

[00:29:50] Alison: So this is, Do you have their birth certificate, social security card number, health record for your schools? Do you have their address, phone numbers, if course descriptions, if they're sixth grade or above textbooks, copy or of each textbook or title page, if they have it, a student handbook, blah, blah, blah, copy for your school records, report cards, test scores, dah, dah, dah.

[00:30:13] Alison: So this is just a little checklist that you can go through and you might not have all the things, but if you're like, Oh my God, I don't even know where to start. This is a really good place where you can start gathering that information. And then the last one is, again, this is also from MSEC. It's a school withdrawal and enrollment checklist.

[00:30:33] Alison: And so this gives you again, if you, Hey, we've got to move our kids to another school. Here you go. Notify counselor and other. personnel of withdrawal. Begin collecting documents for your student portfolio. You need to get as needed, right? The birth certificate, immunization records, proof of, of residency, military orders, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah.

[00:30:55] Alison: What options are there? Consult with a school liaison officer or counselor to, you know, at your onboarding school, different things like that. Right. And then when you're ready to enroll your kid in a new school, there's a, there's another list of, of things that you can do or what you might need to have, right?

[00:31:16] Alison: Like you need all of these documents, meet with the school counselor, give them copies of your transcripts, clarify, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Okay. So those two checklists, I'm also going to, if again, if you're just like, Oh my God, I don't know what to do. I don't even know where to start. Am I going to get there and need all this stuff that I don't have?

[00:31:38] Alison: These are two places where you can just go down the list and at least it'll be a good place to start. And then again, highly recommend, and I'm gonna, I'm gonna do it like I'm telling you guys to do it, is the education binder for your kids. And then another thing to remember too, we talked about this. I think it was the last, last April, when I was talking, we were doing episodes again around military kids and schools and part of the interstate compact for kids for military specifically is that you are allowed to hand carry your students records from place to place.

[00:32:21] Alison: So a lot of stuff is digital these days and a lot of stuff gets lost. So I highly recommend. that you go into your school's office, preferably not on the last day of school and get the information. Get your kids records that you can hand carry with you to the other place. And then, you know, I read something that was like, well, your only digital records are accepted, but at least you still have it, right?

[00:32:48] Alison: So if like, Oh, we don't know. And the other school is not answering your phone calls, right? At least you have. You have it right. And you are allowed to have it. So if you get pushback from your school, it's like, Oh no, we, we, we can't do that. We don't do that. Yes. We, it's part of the interstate compact and I am allowed to get these records.

[00:33:07] Alison: Right. Okay. So I think that's it for today. I hope I didn't inundate you with too much, but again, this is, you know, it's, it's a lot. This is a lot. Moving our kids and schools is a lot to navigate on top of packing out your actual house. Where are you going to live? The logistics of the move, who's got to go to a school, all the things.

[00:33:28] Alison: This is just one more thing on top of it. But if we can, you know, give ourselves these little wickets, these little steps to take, I think it is. just to ease that transition a little bit. And again, I will share with you guys in real time as we get to Washington and get the girls in school and go through all of this stuff.

[00:33:44] Alison: I will share with you what I found and what worked and what didn't work. So stay tuned for that. All right. So two weeks and two weeks, that episode is going to be a PCS update. Where are we at? What am I doing? for our move. We, again, we are a full ditty and we are about two months out. So what am I doing?

[00:34:06] Alison: How am I packing? I'm going to share all that stuff with you guys in two weeks. So until next time.