my 7 yo daughter seems to be depressed lately. what should i do?

Hey all, we’re heading into the holidays, and I have to admit I’m a little worried about how much homework and pressure my son has had to deal with so far in school... and he’s only in 3rd grade! Since school started, it feels like every evening is packed with either homework or studying for a test (which means both my son and I have work to do). Last week, he had a spelling test, a math test, and a hand-in assignment all within two days... 🤷🏻‍♀️ It just feels like too much for a 9-year-old. Lately, he’s been saying things like, “I don’t think I’m good at school,” which is so hard to hear because he loved second grade! I get that 3rd grade is supposed to be a transition year and a bit more challenging, but it feels overwhelming. Is this normal for 3rd grade now? Are any other parents seeing the same thing? How are you helping your kids manage the stress while still encouraging them to do their best? Thanks in advance! 🙏 🙏

My son is very young for his grade. He was born in mid August and his school has a September cutoff. Some of the kids in his class are a whole year older than him. His first report card from 2nd grade was not good at all.... When we met with his teacher she said he can't sit still in the classroom, and if he doesn't get something he doesn't ask for help, he just doesn't do it. Although he's younger age shows in the classroom, physically he's as fast and tall (or even taller) than his classmates and loves playing baseball with friends from class. My husband and I have been thinking about holding him back in 2nd grade, but we're afraid it might affect his self-esteem or create social challenges. We don’t want him to feel like he's falling behind, but we also want to give him the best chance to catch up and thrive. We're trying to figure out if holding him back could help him focus more in school or if it would just make things harder for him socially. It’s a tough call. What do you guys think?

My husband and I are gearing up for a 15 hour flight to visit family, and honestly, we’re absolutely dreading it... Traveling with 2 kids feels like preparing for battle... there’s just so much to think about! I'd LOVE any tips or wisdom from parents who’ve survived long flights with kids! How do you keep them entertained for so many hours? How do you manage naps or, dare we hope, actual sleep on the plane? How bad is 15 hours of screen time? 😅