School time is approaching, and it is finally time to send your baby off to kindergarten. How has it already come to this? How can they already be this old?

Whether you are new to kindergarten or not, finding your core kindergarten moms is going to be your key to success. There IS an actual formula to this as well, so new mamas, lean in and listen closely.

Navigating your way through your first year of school can be SO overwhelming. There are volunteer lists, orientations, field trips to learn about, passwords and applications to fill out, and don't even get me started on the paperwork required (name, address, date of birth, repeat...until your hand falls off).

When I launched my first little into the crazy world of kindergarten, we had just moved into the area and I knew approximately ZERO people. I showed up, with two of my other littles in tow, like an absolute deer in the headlights. I had an anxious 5 year old, who in normal circumstances bounds toward new situations with joy and excitement, but in this particular scenario, I think he was picking up on his mama's feelings of being a fish out of water. There we were, all of us brand new, with not a clue where to go, what to do or what to expect.

It was like having to find a seat at the middle school lunch table all over again, except I was the adult now and I was supposed to know how to adult.

Right when I thought my heart was going to explode from all of the emotions, a sweet mom quickly introduced herself (she also looked like a sideshow circus with two additional littles in tow) and we decided to be new together.

It went something like this:

You have a kindergartener starting today, too? Yes! Great – let's be BFF's.

New-to-kindergarten moms, find another new-to-kindergarten mom. It is SO much better to have someone else right beside you, not knowing what the heck is going on, than being by yourself. Small talk your life away with your new friend, I promise it will help ease the nerves of sending your little off to school for the first time!

Once you find another new mom, your next goal is to find a veteran mom. Find that mom who is gliding through kindergarten drop off, hallways, and classroom etiquette with ease. Her hair probably is a bit more put together and the bags under her eyes won't be quite as dark. Those are your cues: find her, and move in on her.

It feels stupid, but ask to be her friend. We all need friends. This veteran mom will be your pot of gold. She'll be able to give you the inside scoop on how all of the things will go. You need her.

These are your people. This is the start of your journey together with school-age kids. Whether you are launching your first, or launching your last, there is benefit from linking arms with the mom that is a deer in headlights and the one appearing to soar through the process with ease – you'll each provide unique perspective to your new crew throughout the year, and your schooling journey.

Veteran moms, befriend the new mom because no one likes being new. Everyone wants to feel like they are on the inside track, so do your girls a solid and be the friend that you wish you had on that first day of kindergarten.

Plus, when those inevitable tears start to roll as the kids all walk into class for the first time, you're going to need someone to pass the tissues, and laugh with you that yes, you are in fact crying.

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