There's a lot to think about when you go back to school after a long summer off. You might be thinking about what clothes you'll wear, what kind of teachers you'll have, if you'll get a lot of homework and how well you will fit in with the rest of the kids. These are all very normal things to think about as you begin a new school year. You're hoping for the best but sometimes thinking the worst!

Some of you may still be thinking about changes that occurred over the summer. Perhaps one of your parents got remarried and you're thinking about how difficult it is getting used to having a stepparent as well as step brothers or sisters in the house. You may be feeling angry about sharing your parent with that other adult. Maybe your Mom or Dad didn't get married, but their boyfriend or girlfriend moved in with you. You might be concerned with how you're going to explain this to your friends or what the kids and teachers will think. And if your Mom had a new baby with your StepDad, you may feel embarrassed, jealous or maybe you love being around the baby and don't want to leave the baby to go to school!

Other kids parents may have gotten divorced over the summer and they worry about what's going to happen to them, how or if they'll tell their friends, or worry that the whole thing is their fault (which it never is!). If you've moved as a result of divorce or remarriage, not only are you thinking about the stuff at home, but also you're concerned about making new friends.

I bet many of you spent time with the parent this summer that you don't see as much during the school year. Many times when kids come back from spending lots of time with their other parent, it's hard to get used to being away from them again. Even though you love the parent that you live with most of the time, you love your other parent too, and it's natural to think that you'd like to spend more time with him/her. While you may be excited to get back home, you may be wishing that you were still on summer vacation with your Mom or Dad.

If your family has changed over the summer, it's natural to think about all of these things as the school year starts up. When kids (and adults) have too much on their minds though, it can become hard for them to concentrate or pay attention to other things going on around them. They may feel sad, nervous, angry, or just plain confused. They may not want to do some of the fun things they used to do or they may want to do too many fun (and sometimes dangerous) things in order to keep them from thinking about their problems.

I's important that either you or your parents tell the people at school about the changes that occurred over the summer in your family. That way it will be easier for them to understand if you're not paying attention as you used to. It's often helpful for kids to talk with a 'grown-up' they trust about the changes, it could be your teacher, school counselor, or any other adult that you trust. By doing this, you can learn new ways of handling your feelings. Sometimes just talking can be enough to start you on your way toward feeling better and having a great school year!