Parents: Back-to-School Season Doesn’t Have to Mean Back-to-Stress

parent helping child with homework at computer, top down view

When the first bell rings at the end of summer, for busy working parents, it means so much more than the end of a nine-week break from school. It seems as soon as September rolls around, the shortening days close in on a landslide of seasonal commitments and back-to-school stress.

Then, add daily school drop-off and pickup, after-school chauffeur duties, homework help and the impending holiday rush to the mix of ‘round-the-clock career, home and social responsibilities. 

Now you’ve got a recipe for stretching yourself too thin.

[Related: 6 Signs You Need a Personal Assistant]

For bogged-down parents who find themselves in need of an extra set of hands during this busy time, enlist a professional personal assistant (PA) to help pick up the slack. The best part? Your freed-up schedule makes room for more quality family time!

The trick is to get back into the swing of things before the holidays hit. You can use September and October to tackle your to-do list before Halloween gives way to the annual Thanksgiving and Christmas takeover. This is where your PA steps in to save the season.

Here are a few ways PAs can help lighten the load during the frenzied back-to-school season.

Meal Planning and Prep

Grocery shopping for dinner ingredients and preparing each component can eat up a lot of your spare time.

While you’re at work, hand off your shopping list to your PA. We’ll shop during non-peak hours and stock your kitchen with all the fresh and dry goods you need. We can also measure and chop vegetables beforehand, so all you have to do when you get home is assemble, serve and enjoy.

Our PAs can even pick up your favorite bottle of wine so you can pamper yourself with a glass once the kids are in bed!

As a result, you replace mealtime stress with relaxing personal time.

[Related: Burnout: What’s at Stake and What Can You Do About It?]

Scheduling

We can take care of calendar organization, including scheduling important dates:

  • Upcoming doctor and dental appointments
  • Yard services
  • Car tune-ups
  • Repair services
  • Haircuts and beauty appointments
  • Child and pet care arrangements
  • Home delivery coordination and reception

Our PAs can also make sure that any school-related events — such as PTA meetings, field trips, concerts and other extracurricular activities — make it onto the calendar. That way, they’re easy for you to review. Never double-book again with the help of a PA.

Taking Care of the House in Your Absence

Flying out to visit the in-laws for the holidays? Your PA will take care of your home while you’re away — whether this means watering plants, cleaning up after the kitty, checking the mail, restocking the fridge or all of the above.

Event Planning

Hosting a holiday party or Thanksgiving dinner? Allow your sidekick to manage your invites and get a head start on the shopping.

Maybe your child wants a very specifically themed birthday party, and you don’t have time to research who exactly the Avengers are and what kind of cupcakes Iron Man is into. A PA can take the reins and work with your budget to plan an unforgettable event. 

[Related: Do Successful People Outsource? The Answer Is Yes.]

Shopping for School Supplies

It can seem that each year, school supply lists keep getting longer and longer. And because every parent out there needs to get those items, navigating busy stores can take a lot more time than it needs to. 

Pass off these lists to your PA. They’ll grab all the notebooks, pens, pencils, tissues, and crayons your kid will need this year.

Pet Care

With the increased activities of fall, one or two family members may feel a bit neglected. Let your PA make sure your furry, four-legged friends get enough care and attention on those extra-busy days when you aren’t home that much. 

Our PAs can guarantee your animals are happy and entertained. They’ll feed, walk, make vet appointments and give extra belly rubs.

Balancing Career and Home Life

Own a small business? Wrapped up in a full-time consulting job? Staying late at the office as business picks up during the fall and winter? 

With a PA to take care of errands, chores and home life details, you can focus your energy on workday operations for maximum success — and use your hard-earned time off to relax for once. 

[Related: Case Study: How One Mom Got Back Her Time]

Relax This Fall With the Help of Pepper’s Personal Assistants

If you’re thinking of starting your PA journey, contact Pepper’s Personal Assistants today. Let’s get started! 

Want to learn more? Check out the best interview questions to ask a PA, our advice for getting started with your PA and the five apps we recommend for making back-to-school time a bit easier.

Featured image via Pexels

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A True Game-Changer

“Having Mary as my personal assistant has been a game-changer. I don’t have to think about laundry or the cat litter—she handles all those daily tasks I’d rather not do. She’s proactive, assertive in all the right ways, and totally in control of every detail. I’d rate her a 5 out of 5, no question!”

Brian T.

Proactive, Reliable, Caring Support

“Sarah has been such a reliable support—always proactive, spotting things that need to be done before I even ask, and taking care of them. She has such a positive attitude and is constantly looking for ways to add value and make things easier. And I love how much happier and more spoiled my dogs are thanks to her care. I barely have to think about her day-to-day, and I mean that in the best way possible!”

K.W.

Exceptional Home Management

“Bernice is simply amazing—I just can’t say enough good things about her. She excels at physical tasks and knows my habits so well that she can anticipate my needs without me even saying anything. As a house manager, she’s exceptional; she takes care of all those little things that I wouldn’t even think of. Over time, we’ve developed a wonderful rhythm, and it’s such a relief to have someone who just knows what needs to be done and does it effortlessly.”

J.H.

Exceeding Expectations Every Day

“My PA has truly exceeded my expectations. I really enjoy coming home now because everything in my home is something I know and love. She’s helped me with tasks I didn’t even know where to begin, and her ability to do the background work and present options has been invaluable. She has made it possible for me to manage things without feeling overwhelmed, and it’s been a game changer for me!”

W.W.

Bringing Joy and Efficiency

“My PA Tess is proactive and handles everything beautifully, from small tasks that bring joy to big projects like planning trips. She balances recurring tasks with high-priority work, and everything gets done perfectly. I didn’t realize how much joy small things like making the bed could bring until Tess started doing them. She has truly made a difference in our home, bringing both efficiency and a level of organization and joy we didn’t realize we needed.”

K.H.

Support That Makes a Difference

“Having Missa as a PA has taken me from daily treading water to swimming to the shore. I’ve gone from never quite keeping up with things to actually having extra energy to do more. She has been a tremendous help, reducing my stress and allowing me to rest and recover. The support I receive is perfect; Missa is a 5 out of 5 in meeting all my needs. I’ve already recommended Pepper’s to a few friends because having extra help makes all the difference.”

Kathy M.

Back-to-School Unmatched Support

“Having Jay as my personal assistant has been fantastic. She helps me tackle projects that were just looming over my head and has built a great rapport with my teenage son. She’s helped my son pick out his back-to-school wardrobe and coached him through decisions — I couldn’t ask for better support. I sometimes think about when I could handle everything on my own, but now I can’t imagine doing it without Jay’s help.”

R.B.

PA to the Rescue

“I am very satisfied with my personal assistant. The biggest relief is knowing that when things get hectic with work my PA is there to help us from lighting on fire, especially when one of us is traveling.”

Ana V.

Dream PA Experience

“I am very satisfied; My PA has everything dialed in and the schedule works really well and is flexible when needed. Honestly: My PA and I click very well, I love it, it’s a dream!”

Jodi K.

Stress-Free Travel

“One of the massive benefits of having a PA is during travel disruptions. When flights are delayed, the kids are upset, and you’re stuck in customs, coming home to a stocked fridge and a prepared meal eliminates the need for a late-night milk run. You don’t realize the stress these tasks add until you have someone to handle them for you.”

A.S.

11/10!

“My PA is incredible—an 11 out of 10—really thoughtful, thorough, intuitive. She is professional but friendly; she has just been great. A couple of times because of things going on with her calendar, Kandis has been flexible—coming 15 minutes later to drop the dog off at puppy play. She has been really great.”

Libby

Thoughtful and Detail-Oriented

“My PA is a thoughtful and discerning assistant. She pays attention to details in our home and makes great suggestions for how to improve and optimize our lives. We trust her judgment, and she communicates proactively and frequently. She is always on-site on time and patient with my unpredictable schedule. We communicate frequently, but she’s also very efficient in how we communicate. Great work!”

Client

Super Happy!

“[I] really do think Kandis is setting the bar! Having a new person come into your house can go either way. [I’m] very grateful for the time and energy and people that Pepper’s has. It’s a big step; no suggestions around onboarding. [I’m] really happy that we were able to board Kandis quickly; super happy for the West Seattle support.”

Libby

Organizing Superhero

“My PA is really good at organizing; it’s one of her superpowers. Some of the simple reorganizing things that she has done have made a big impact. She organized all the cat stuff in the garage and took the initiative on her own. She’s bright and cheery—no moaning, whining. Very great.”

Emma

One of the Best Decisions I’ve Made

“I just wanted to take a few minutes to tell you how much I have appreciated working with all of the Pepper’s staff. My assistant is so generous and thoughtful — she brings value to every interaction. I can’t remember a time when I’ve hired anyone with such a professional and high standard of customer service. Working with you all has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in a very long time!”

Libby

10/10 for Sure!

“Missa is a 10/10 for sure! She has been wonderful, and we check in regularly. I’m comfortable communicating with her about questions or requests, and she’s always been very responsive and also seems comfortable checking in if she has any questions for me. [The] biggest help remains pet care and household chores support, plus the help with one-off projects that come up. Missa has all kinds of skills she brings, (e.g., she’s currently putting together a ‘cat highway’ for the living room rafters).”

Homeowner

My Quality of Life Has Improved

“I used to spend every weekend and every evening doing chores and running errands. Now, I’m able to spend the time that I need to on my business, and then I get to enjoy my home and my life and the precious unstructured time that I have. The truth is, my quality of life has improved by having a Pepper’s household assistant here.”

Libby

Takes Initiative

“I want to mention what a fantastic personal assistant Billie is to me. We were on vacation last week, and she managed my household and vendors flawlessly. I even had her redecorate my office, and I gave her very little direction other than just to make it nice and functional, and, my goodness, did she ever! She takes initiative in my house in so many other ways but does not overstep or overspend. To strike that balance is really something unique and special. I feel really lucky to have her.”

Anura

I’m Blown Away

“[I’m] blown away by how much better the house looks already :)”

Graham

Kind, Caring, and Proactive

“My PA is a very caring person. I was incredibly ill last year, and my PA connected the dots that the washing machine had a lot of mold and thought the black specs on my clothes were from that. On her own time, my PA sent me an article about the impact of mold/washing machines. It was so kind of her.”

Emma

Goes Above and Beyond

“My PA has gone above and beyond. She’s organized my laundry room while keeping on top of laundry, which made it much easier to stay on top of stuff. She’s always ready to jump in and tackle items. It made this holiday season way less stressful.”

Andrea