Wellbeing Wednesday: Navigating the September Shift: Back to School, Autumn Rain, and the “Ber” Months

It has been a loooong summer, but welcome back to Wellbeing Wednesday!!

I didn’t intend to take a summer break from the blog, but it happened, and it has been the best summer for understanding and embracing my own need for self-care (more about that next week!). So now that the summer holidays have drawn to a quiet close, schools are back in (parents… you made it!!!! Have yourself a cup of tea and a deep breath in and out!), and the weather has taken that familiar, unmistakable turn toward autumn rain.

We have officially arrived in the “Ber” months—September, October, November, and December.

This seasonal transition is one of the biggest “tempo changes” of the entire year. For our children, stepping back into the school routine brings a whirlwind of new teachers, bustling classrooms, and social expectations. For parents and caregivers, it means shifting gears from the expansive, unscheduled days of summer back into the relentless rhythm of alarm clocks, packed lunches, and rain-soaked school runs. And for those people not involved in education, it means the return of school run traffic jams and the rain! It’s here!

When the weather turns grey and the calendar fills up, it is completely normal to feel a mix of relief, exhaustion, and a low-level sense of overwhelm.

How do we support our children through the school transition, embrace the shift into the darker, rainy months, and keep ourselves in tune as the tempo of life speeds up?

1. The “After-School Restraint Collapse”

Have you noticed that your child comes home from the first few days of school looking fine on the surface, only to completely melt down over the wrong cup or a missing sock twenty minutes later?

In child psychology, this is known as After-School Restraint Collapse. Throughout the school day, your child’s nervous system is working overtime. They are holding in their emotional tension, sitting still, following rules, and navigating a loud, high-stimulus environment. When they finally walk through the front door, they reach their “Safe Haven”—and all that suppressed energy explodes.

• The Music Therapy Link: The Decompression Buffer. You cannot expect an instrument that has been played at maximum volume all day to suddenly be silent. It needs a gradual “fade out.”
• The Practice: The 30-Minute “Low-Noise” Window. When your children get home, resist the urge to immediately grill them with: “How was your day? What did you do? Who did you play with?” Instead, lower the noise floor. Provide a warm drink or snack, put on soft, low-frequency instrumental music or gentle nature sounds, and let them simply be in silence or quiet play.
• The Goal: Giving their nervous systems a chance to transition out of “school vigilance” and back into safety without having to process more questions.

2. Embracing the “Ber” Months: A Shift to Cosyness and Rest

When the summer sun fades and the rain starts hammering against the windows, it is easy to view the changing weather as a negative. But in wellbeing, the “Ber” months offer us a profound lesson in natural rhythms: Nature does not bloom all year round, and neither should you.

• The Reframe: From “Dreary Rain” to “Acoustic Sanctuary.” Rain carries a natural, biophilic frequency that acts as pink noise for the human brain. The steady, predictable patter of rain on glass or leaves naturally lowers our heart rate and signals to our nervous systems that it is time to slow down, gather inside, and rest.
• The Practice: Building Your Autumn Haven. Intentionally lean into the change of season. Bring out the warm blankets, light a candle, make a pot of soup, and create a cozy “sonic environment” at home. Swap the frantic summer outdoor energy for indoor warmth, soft lighting, and gentle background rhythms.

3. Re-Establishing the Family Pulse

A sudden change in routine can leave the whole household feeling a bit out of sync. When the mornings feel rushed and the evenings feel chaotic, we need a simple way to bring everyone back to a shared tempo.

• The Exercise: The Evening “Anchor Track.” Choose one relaxing, beautiful song to play at the same time every evening—perhaps while dinner is being served or right before the bedtime story routine begins.
• Why it works: Over time, your family’s nervous systems will connect that specific piece of music with safety, togetherness, and rest. It acts as an auditory signal that the demands of the day are over, helping children (and parents!) settle into a deeper, more restorative sleep.

Your September Shift Toolkit:

• The Rain Walk (Acoustic Foraging): Don’t let the wet weather trap you inside all week. Put on the wellies and raincoats, step outside, and leave the phones at home. Listen intentionally to the different sounds of the rain: how it taps on an umbrella, splashes in a puddle, or rustles through the autumn trees.
• The Parent’s “Pianissimo” Minute: After the morning school run, before you dive into work, household chores, or your to-do list, pause for 60 seconds. Sit in the quiet car or kitchen, place one hand on your chest, take a deep 4-count breath, and let out a long, low, gentle hum. Reset your own baseline before taking on the day.
• Radical Grace for Messy Tries: September is a transition month. There will be forgotten PE kits, tired tears, and days when you feel like you’re running behind. Give yourself and your children unconditional positive regard; you are all adapting to a new rhythm.

The summer sun may be setting, but the cosy, grounded warmth of the “Ber” months is here to welcome us home. Wrap yourself in the comfort of a slower evening tempo, listen to the rain, and let your family find its new, beautiful harmony.