In the midst of the hustle and bustle of back to school—scouring the internet and running from store to store for school supplies, uniforms, shoes, backpacks, snacks, and lunch options—let’s also be sure to take time to prepare our hearts and our children’s hearts for another year of building relationships with the heart of Christ.

I was particularly reminded of the importance of this preparation when one of my dearest friends, who also happens to be a teacher at our children’s school, posted this reminder on her social media last week:

Before school starts…just take 5 minutes. Not to label supplies. Not to plan lunches. But to talk.

Tell them it’s never okay to make fun of someone’s body, skin, clothes, or lunch. Remind them not every kid has new shoes, a clean uniform, or someone waiting at home.

Let them know a quiet kid might be going through something big. That school is for learning, not judging. That teasing isn’t harmless.

Just 5 minutes. That’s it. Because the kind ones? They’re raised on purpose. It starts with us.

How many of us parents with school aged children need to take 5 minutes to remind ourselves of similar realties before we jump into another year of school?

I think most parents instinctively know the truths in this post, particularly that our primary vocation is to teach and raise our children to know, love, and reflect Christ here on earth. Every morning in carpool, my children and I conclude our morning prayers with, “Help us to do our best, to make good choices, and to love others the way You love them.”

More days than not, we parents could use similar prayerful reminders. Are we doing our best? Are we making good choices? Are we loving others the way God loves them?

Do we remember that the obnoxiously slow car in front of us may be a new driver? Do we remember that the teacher we are emailing is a spouse, child, and parent juggling all the same (and often more!) life pressures as us? Do we remember that the bully at school may be a lonely child crying out for love and attention in all the wrong ways?

Or do we snap into aggressive parent mode, seeing every challenging person or situation as an outlet for our frustration, anger, and blame?

This school year, let us model our Savior in His unconditional love for all, including His quiet submission to injustice, the jeers of the crowd, and the mocking and beating from the soldiers. Before we light up that email or phone line with complaints and attacks, let us first pause, pray, reflect.

Could this be a misunderstanding?

Could this be an honest mistake?

Could this be a wound unrelated to me or my child?

Could this be my chance to offer the gentle, loving, merciful words (or silence) of Christ?

Every parent knows that children are far more attentive to what we do than what we say. How will our actions and reactions to the challenges of a new school year teach our children to be the light of Christ wherever they are placed?

Let’s take 5 minutes to remind ourselves of what it looks like to be that light in all of our school interactions this year.