I find it amazing how many people on the www have kids who have already headed back to school. I've always lived in the mid-west and north-east and never started school before Labour Day. Today is number 50 of our 70 days of summer. Still much free time to enjoy.
As a result of all of the posts I'm reading, I have a niggling need to make a list! This one is for the younger two kids.
(Let me start by saying, I think I'm the only person in the world immune to the back-to-school ads on television. I have no burning need to run to either Old Navy or Staples - though I do have appreciation for "the Most Wonderful Time of the Year ... " jingle.)CLOTHES: There is no need to buy "back to school" clothes since all of the kids will return to school in shorts and t-shirts. No need for autumn clothes until autumn. Or, if this summer is any indication, we may not need warmer clothes until winter! I'm happy to wait for the late-September sales to buy jeans and long sleeved shirts.
SHOES: Considering the kids have been either barefoot or in flip flops all summer, I'm sure their feet have had a chance to grow. They each need two pairs: indoor shoes and outdoor shoes. For the first couple of months, until boot season starts, that means two pairs of sneakers.
SUPPLIES: There is no need to buy new math sets, binders or knapsacks. Ours are still clean and in good working order. I know it's traditional for many to buy new EVERYTHING, but really, why?
SNACKS: I spent all summer getting my kids used to eating food that has been treated as toxic at best and deadly at worst: peanut butter. Now we go back into the no peanut zone. We're also completely garbage free at school, so my challenge this year is to send them to school with no packaging so none comes home!
This is how they looked last year:
Okay, to the list:
- Go through all clothes and determine if anything needs repair, cleaning or ironing.
- Consider buying crocs as the outdoor shoes this year, wonder if the rule is the same for them?
- Launder everything and bag up anything outgrown for give-away; take the give-away bag and deposit in the proper receptical - do not let it sit outside the laundry door for months, this year, ahem.
- Find math sets, binders and knapsacks; make sure everything is in working order and clean what needs cleaning
- Go "shopping" in mama's studio for pencils, erasers, glue sticks and notebooks.
- Bring in the obligatory box of tissue
- Take a trip to Chapters and buy one book for DEAR for the first term
- Load up the now-empty drawer with school friendly snacks
- Wash out lunch bags
- Start sleep/wake routine to avoid the first week of school grumpies.
In the meantime they are enjoying their summertime not in the least bit worried about lists or supplies or laundry:
As for the olders? They wear uniforms, use laptops and eat at school. Pretty boring list. Though, I do have a hefty, and expensive, book list for each of them. I do hope they'll find their blazers and ties in time for school to start ... September 13th!
What do you prepare for the start of school? Do you have any funky rules that have to be followed?
