The start of the school year is a season of both excitement and adjustment — earlier mornings, fuller schedules, and a fresh wave of backpacks, water bottles, and homework folders entering the daily flow of family life. With everything coming and going, it helps to have a space where the chaos can land gently.

That’s where a drop zone comes in.

Sending a child off to college is one of those moments that feels big — in your home, in your heart, and in your daily rhythm. There’s the practical side of preparing for dorm life, but beneath the checklists and Target runs is something deeper: the quiet work of letting go.

Whether it’s your first time packing for a college move or your last, here are a few ways to make the transition feel more peaceful — for both of you.

As the school year approaches, many of us feel the itch to “get it together” — to finally find a system for papers, create a better drop zone, or just feel a little less frantic when the backpacks hit the floor. The good news? You don’t need a complete overhaul. A few thoughtful shifts can create just enough structure to support your family through the weeks ahead.

As the school year approaches, many of us feel the itch to “get it together” — to finally find a system for papers, create a better drop zone, or just feel a little less frantic when the backpacks hit the floor. The good news? You don’t need a complete overhaul. A few thoughtful shifts can create just enough structure to support your family through the weeks ahead.

As the school year approaches, many of us feel the itch to “get it together” — to finally find a system for papers, create a better drop zone, or just feel a little less frantic when the backpacks hit the floor. The good news? You don’t need a complete overhaul. A few thoughtful shifts can create just enough structure to support your family through the weeks ahead.

As the school year approaches, so does the desire to bring a little order back into our days.

If you’re craving calm and clarity as your family shifts seasons, here are five gentle ways to begin reclaiming rhythm in your home.