What are your back-to-back school traditions?

I teach Special Education, and I have rituals to prepare myself to go back to the kids who demand and need so much of my time.

About a week before school starts, I try to spend some time being pampered: massage, aromatherapy, acupuncture, body wraps.

Next, I make sure that my house is in order — it gets a good cleaning and all the clutter is put away or thrown out.

I then put all my instructional materials and books into the car the night before and hit the sack about 7:00 P.M. with a hot cup of chamomile tea. It sounds early, but a great night's sleep will put you in a great mood for the fall season to come.

From Real Simple reader ANDREW PARALES, San Diego, California