I know I might be in the minority here, but I absolutely lovedback-to-school prep back in the day. The joy of picking out a new pencil case! The smell of freshly sharpened pencils! Writing your name (just so!) on your fresh, color-coordinated folders!! The unmatched satisfaction of finding the perfect compartment for each of your school supplies in your multi-pocket backpack!!!
So, if sending your kids back to school has felt like an unending swirl of chaos and hard choices, you’re not alone. But you’re also not powerless, says economist and parenting expert Emily Oster. You can bring more order and agency to your family, she says, by holding fast to your priorities and your values.
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In our recent interview with Oster, she shared wisdom from her new book The Family Firm, a data-driven guide to help parents make better decisions in the early school years. She says that applying small business principles to household logistics and decision-making can lead to more family flourishing.
When making a decision big or small, Oster recommends an approach called the 4F’s:
Frame the question. Articulate: What are the choices that you are making? Are you asking the question, should my child get a fancy phone where they can use all the apps? Or are you asking, should I get my child a basic phone so they can call me after soccer practice or in an emergency? The information you need to make a decision is completely different depending on the question.
Fact Find. Businesses use data to back-up their decision-making. Oster says it's a combination of thinking about what data you need to speak to the choices. What evidence is there that you could bring to bear?
Final Decision. "We tend to let the decisions fester. So really be concrete. Let's say, in some cases, let's have a meeting and decide," Oster says. Here, you've thought about the issues and thought about how they are specific to your kid.
Follow-Up. Decisions aren't forever. There are opportunities to revisit, and that's a part of being deliberate and not reactive, says Oster.
We wish you luck as you get ready for the year ahead, friends. Don’t forget to add a little joy to your prep list.
— Andee Tagle, Life Kit producer
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