We handle back to school much like we handle Christmas in our house: We begin shopping as the store is closing its doors on the very last day, attend everything late or not at all, and then wonder why everything is disorganized and chaotic. It’s supposed to be fun, filled with new beginnings, togetherness and offer a good chance to get off on the right foot–but does any mom pull it off as planned? This is our rendition:
Do you really need a thousand pencils on the first day? Can we start with ONE eraser and go from there? Can’t we just *make* paper plates? Oh look! Your sneakers from last year look great now that I’ve hosed them off!
I’m not winning any popularity contests with the kids anytime soon, but it does feel like each year is more excessive than the last. I do my best to explain this to them. Sometimes I can get away with statements like: It’s more sustainable to re-use your backpack from last year. Other times I just suck it up and take the plunge on million dollar rain boots, or those blingy markers, knowing that I’m improving someone’s chance at being hip (tenfold). Don’t get me wrong, I love spoiling my kids and I do when I can, it’s just that out-of-control Back to School shopping can easily cost us a mortgage payment or two. So does Christmas–so we need to be careful.
But this is a very special year, and I’m doing my best to kick butt in the retail section and bring many smiles to many faces. Jake is “celebrating” his last year in school as a senior and Leopold is just getting started as a kindergartener. And, I’d like to sneak in the fact that I will be home alone for the first time in almost two decades. To kick it all off, I made a video of what life is going to be like this school year:
We’ll pull it off, we always do.
So called Mom