Beware the 3rd-Day-Crash (I’m Not Talking About the Kids)

3rd-Day-Crash Survival Kit

The new school year is starting soon…And I want to warn you about something that sneaks up fast:

The 3rd-Day-Crash.

Sounds dramatic, right? It is. But it's not what you think.

There may be tears.

There will be overwhelm, exhaustion, and irrational anger at the resurgence of school.

There may be sleeping problems and an alarming increase in morning groans.

But here’s the twist...

I’m talking about parents.

What Is the 3rd-Day-Crash?

It hits right when you think you’re finding a groove.

• Day 1? You’re running on adrenaline.

• Day 2? Still coasting on nerves and the novelty of it all.

• Day 3? That’s when the wheels fall off.

Suddenly, you’re out of energy.You’ve packed 6 lunches, filled out 12 forms, had 3 “what are we doing after school” conversations, and your body realizes:

“Oh no, we’re doing this for real. Like… every day?”

Cue the crash.

Why It Happens

• The first couple of days run on excitement, stress, and sheer willpower.

• But there’s been no time to adjust — just react.

• No one (including you) has had enough sleep.

• Routines are rusty.

• And your nervous system? Fried toast.

So by Day 3, everyone — not just the kids — is falling apart.

How to Avoid the Crash

Good news: the 3rd-Day-Crash is totally preventable.

🔑 The key? Don’t wait until school starts to start acting like school has started.

🎬 Think of it like a dress rehearsal the week before.

Here’s how to run your before-school simulation:

🕒 Morning Routine Dry Run

• ⏰ Wake up on school schedule

• 🍳 Eat breakfast like it’s go-time

• 👕 Get dressed, shoes on, lunch packed — bonus points if you actually drive around the block

📚 Academic Warm-Up

• Set aside 15-30 minutes in the afternoon for:

  • 📙 Reading

  • ✍️ Writing/drawing

  • 🎲 A quick math game

• Doesn’t need to be intense — just enough to shift gears

🌙 Bedtime Boot Camp

• Gradually roll bedtime back to school-night timing

• Get in the habit of winding down with less screen time and more calm

“But It’s the Last Week of Summer…”

I get it.

This plan might sound like a tragic end to summer freedom.

And honestly? Giving up lazy mornings feels like a lot.But here’s what I’ve learned (the hard way):

Investing a few structured days before school starts saves you from a chaotic, exhausting crash once it does.

Don't think of it as losing your last week of summer —but as rescuing the first week of school.

And then look at you - the wise, prepared, genius parent who waltzes through the 1st week of school cool and calm.