Week 29: Back to School, Meal Planning, and Family Dinners (Dinners 73-75)

And just like that, summer is over. We are officially back to school, and I still can’t believe I have two kids in high school. My son is a senior, and my daughter is a freshman. There are so many emotions that come with this season: pride, excitement, a little bit of disbelief, and (let’s be honest) a lot of logistics.

My Kids, My Heart

My son is 17. He’s a stroke survivor with hemiplegic cerebral palsy and developed epilepsy at 12. He has always loved sports, and even though he can’t play on the field, he has been embraced by the football coaches as a student coach for the last three years. It’s a role that lights him up. He loves speaking in front of a crowd, breaking down the day, and yes being overdramatic whenever possible (which fits him perfectly).

My daughter is 14 and just starting her freshman year. The way our town does schools, this is the one and only year my kids will attend the same school together, which makes this season even more special. She’s artistic, dramatic, and incredibly creative. Theater is her safe place, and despite her social anxiety, she has found her people in the drama department. She sings, she creates, she makes things out of her imagination and I am constantly amazed by the things that come from her mind and hands.

Why Dinner Matters So Much

Over the years, so much of who my kids are has been revealed to me at the dinner table. Between bites of food and even sibling arguments, I’ve gotten to know their dreams, their worries, their humor, and their hearts. Dinner is our connection point. It’s the place we come back to, no matter how busy the world gets.

Now, as we head into a year of senior pictures, cap and gown purchases, football practices, and drama clubs and productions, the pull to stay connected feels even stronger. Dinner helps us do that.

A New Tool for Busy Weeks

With school and activities ramping up, meal planning has quickly become my survival skill. This week, I discovered a new tool that I am absolutely in love with: the Walmart Meal Planning feature in the app. Under your account, you can browse recipes, add the ingredients straight to your cart, and schedule grocery pickup. It makes trying new meals so easy and that was one of my big goals for this year.

On the menu this week:

• Spinach & Feta Turkey Burgers

• Caprese Salad Chicken

• One-Pan Fish & Chips

It feels good to break out of our routine and try something new, especially when the planning piece is simplified.

Why I Push for Balance

I’ll be honest; my kids don’t always love vegetables. Sometimes it feels like a tug-of-war at the table. But I keep pushing forward because I know how important it is. Teaching them that a balanced meal includes protein, carbs, and veggies matters. I hope that even if they roll their eyes now, one day they’ll look back and realize how important these lessons were.

Family dinners aren’t just about food. They’re about building lifelong habits, modeling balance, and showing our kids that being together matters even when life is chaotic.

Organized & Ready

With the school year starting, I’ve learned that organization is everything. I keep our calendar posted in the kitchen so everyone knows what’s coming, and I meal plan on weekends to set us up for success. Freezer breakfast burritos are always ready for busy mornings, and bagels with cream cheese are a forever favorite in our house.

These little systems make the chaos manageable and they keep us around the table, no matter how full our schedules get.

My Takeaway This Week

Back-to-school brings excitement, nerves, and a whole lot of moving parts. But the dinners we’ve had this week reminded me of why I keep showing up to the table: it’s where we stay connected. It’s where I hear my kids’ voices and catch glimpses of the people they’re becoming.

For moms in this season with me whether your kids are 5, 15, or somewhere in between just know this: the dinner table doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. Even simple meals can create lasting connections.