It's getting to be that time of year. For those of you with kids still at home, there are school clothes to shop for, new school supplies to check off the lists, sports physicals to line up and of course the never ending array of team shoes, jackets, warm up shirts, etc. to spring for.
It's back to school time.
Most of our students seem eager to come back (of course, I work with elementary!) But they are excited about the new classroom, new
teacher and being one grade older. Their parents tell us the kids have been bored and are ready to begin again. I often question this and picture the parents doing a little jig in front of the schools on that first day in celebration! But most of the kids do seem happy to get back.I recall being more than ready to return in August when I was a kid, but I was one of those dorks who enjoyed school, liked tests and homework. I don't remember shopping all that much prior to the new school year, though. In Catholic school it just meant getting a couple new white blouses to wear with the uniform and that isn't much to get excited over. Maybe a pair of shoes. I certainly don't remember shopping for school supplies and figure those sorts of additional expenses have cropped up in the last couple decades.
My own kids loved school supply shopping. I usually needed a Valium when we were d
one, LOL. Five different lists, and all the aisles...backtracking for things we couldn't find. Maybe having to go to two stores. And then getting home and the kids dumping all the bags onto the family room floor and re-fighting over whose folders were whose, and who had the best notebooks, etc. It took hours to place things in piles per kid and write names on everything. (We used to have teachers insist that each individual crayon have a name on it. Sadists.) Of course, the school year gearing up means something different for me. I'm actually going to have to go back to work. Yes, the annual whining has commenced :) But I don't feel like I had a summer...I was gone too much and relaxed too little...I didn't get a thing done that I'd planned on taking care of, leaving it, as usual to the last week. Tough. I have one more week to gear up and it's back to school workshops for me.
What are your favorite school memories? Are you getting kids ready for the new school year? What's your funniest/most poignant memory of sending your kids off to school?
24 comments:
No more school supply shopping for me. And I miss it! Just the other day the hubby and I were walking through Target, rather aimlessly, until I veered into the school supplies. How I do love packages of markers and pencils and paper! Sigh...
My second kid has his last year of tech school this year, so he buys all his books online. Takes the thrill of shopping away.
Long time since I've done any school supply shopping and like Michele, I miss it. Loved the look of those brand new pencils all perfect and neat and lined up in a row like soldiers.
Starting new school memories by taking the grand kids school shopping for clothes. Just them and gramma. much fun!
I never looked forward to school. Not even in elementary. I was a tom boy. The idea of being locked inside a building with all those other kids was not my idea of fun. Give me some great outdoors and I was gone from dawn until dusk.
Back to school shopping wasn't THAT much fun. Mom didn't like what I picked out, and since she was the one with the money, we got clothes that she found stylish.
And looking at blank notebooks and all those perfect pens, ugh. All those pages I'd have to fill in, all that lead I'd go through...just ugh.
BUT am looking forward to when I can ship the boy off to school!
I'm with Keri. Couldn't sit still long enough for school. And I hated sending my kids off. Always missed having them around. Sigh. The back to school time of year always makes me a little melancholy. Partly because it's hard to let go of summer.
I love, love, love school shopping. My kids are in high school now, so there's not much shopping to do (which also means that I don't have to label every single crayone either). I went so overboard last year on the nickle spiral notebooks that we still have about 10 for this year. Love the new crayons and markers and pens. It's heaven.
On the other hand, I hate, hate, hate school clothes shopping. Hated it when I was a kid, hate it now. It's nice, though, that the kids are older; I just get them a chunk of change, tell them how many pairs of pants and shirts I expect them to get and send them on their way. They are so good at it. My youngest (14)did lots of bargain shopping and got three pairs of jeans, two shirts, AND shoes for just under $100. I was pretty happy about that.
Michele, that's so funny because the dh and I were in Target to get toys for bd presents and he kept saying, "Why are you looking at school supplies?" LOL. Everything is so shiny and new!
Cindy, I assume you're just taking the oldest two? Because school shopping with all of them at once would *not* be fun, LOL! I used to spend half my time dragging my kids out of the clothes racks they'd crawled under!
Keri, we have to wonder how many other students these days feel the same as you did. That's why we're in to 'diversified instruction', LOL. To make sure everyone gets taught in a way that caters to their preferences and strengths. Our students go on tons of field trips but there are some kids who learn more that way than in the classroom.
Lois, I always have a hard time letting go of summer, too. Love fall, but summer is just so short! It doesn't seem quite fair.
GunDiva, you've raised some pretty savvy shoppers! I discovered early on that my kids were much more frugal than I am, LOL and shopped for the deals. I, with my unerring eye, head right for the new stuff!
I always bought extra when we bought school supplies, because inevitably the folders fall apart around mid-year and they needed new crayons, pencils etc. And none of the 'cool' folders would be left. So we always had a spare sack of supplies in the attic.
Back in the dark ages when I began first grade, you just sent your kids to school with a tablet and a fat pencil. There were no foot-long lists of supplies you had to visit 6 different stores to buy. I did the school supply shopping with my boys because I had to. And at the end of every year when they'd bring home unused supplies, I'd curse a lot. LOL!
Now I just enjoy buying clothes for the grandbaby. After raising two boys, it's been fun shopping for a little girl. Which reminds me -- I need to check out the little girl's winter clothing at the mall. :-)
Marilyn
Count me in as one of those people who likes shopping for school supplies. Well, office supplies, in my case. My office supply closet is a thing of beauty and a source of quiet joy. I have enough #2 yellow pencils to last me unitl I'm at least 100.
I haven't actually been able to shop for school supplies for lo' these many years now. No kids and all my nieces/nephews are grown. I became a Big Sister volunteer last year, though, and just last week I got to take my Little (she's 10 and will be entering the 5th grade) to shop for school supplies. What fun!
And what an education! It was my first experience with the modern school supply list. I was amazed to find each teacher's list from each school at the local Wal-Mart, just like the bridal registry lists.
My Little got some cool notebooks and folders. And I got some cool new gel pens.
Marilyn, I look forward to a granddaughter some day to buy for. I had so much fun dressing a girl...for as long as my daughter let me buy for her...!
The male domination continues in the next generation, too. Three grandsons so far with nary a girl in sight!
Candace, good for you on your mentoring! There are so many students in need of a stable adult influence in their lives these days.
Yes, the class lists have gotten pretty individualized. Me, I just go around to the regular classrooms about March and gather up all the boxes of Kleenex they've accumulated and start stocking my cupboards for the next school year!
This is always such a bittersweet time for me. Can't wait to have more time to work without interruptions, but always feel as though I didn't pack enough into the summer. And now, as my kids are getting older, the empty nest is looming on my horizon. Yikes!
Kylie, that's awesome that your school is like that. It was so hard to sit still for long periods (still is). I was such an energetic kid. I remember giving a presentation in front of the class once--I was in 12th grade--and I was rocking on my feet from my toes to my heels, not because I was nervous, but because I had too much energy for that confinment. This rocking had been going on for about 10minutes solid (a group thing) when aboy in the front row asked me to please stop. :) Think I was making him dizzy *g*
Is it any wonder I didn't last in college??
Helen, I always enjoyed being able to be home with my kids in the summer. Just the day to day routines, even making lunch...we always had a houseful with all the extras that hung here. I miss the company!
Keri, LOL, I"m always the one in the meeting with one leg crossed over the other, leg swinging back and forth. I can't stop and can't sit still!
Kylie, this post b rings back sso many wonderful memories. I loved school shopping with my boys. We always made a day of it-- lunch out, a movie later. It was an event.
then as the guys got older and bigger, I was relegated to carrying the checkbook and credit cards. sigh. Did get to suggest too many things. When my younger son saw my long face at the prospect of his last year of college, he suggested I come out with him for some school shopping and I will forever bless him for that. We bought a few jeans and some new socks and underwear for him. . . then hit a good restaurant and reminisced.
My eldest grandson started kindergarten the day after Labor Day. I'm going to be there to watch him toddle off to school with his backpack and brand new shoes. I'm getting misty just thinking about it.
I love shopping for school supplies! Unfortunately for me, I am done! My kids started back today (1st and PreK) so I did all my back to school buying about 2 weeks ago!
My favorite part of school was the bus ride! I grew up in Vermont and we all used to fight for the seats in the back of the bus so that when the bus hit the frost heaves, we could go flying up out of the seat! LOL!
For us the oddest thing about sending our kids to school is that neither of us thought it was a big deal for them to go for the first time. No tears, no anxiety like most of the parents we know!
Aly, no tears for my kids either. It was just what they did. It may be that I was in "school" (college) too and they knew it wasn't a big deal. You go to school, hang out with some friends, come home and do homework. It's just what you do.
Betina, how wonderful that you're able to live close enough to see that memorable moment for your grandson!
Aly, that is fortunate that you were spared those emotional moments. It seemed like the oldest going off to school for the first time, and then the youngest ones doing the same were both very intense for me emotionally. When the twins (youngest) went to kindergarten I called my husband as I headed to work, almost in tears. I told him, "Your youngest children are in school. All of our kids are school age now." His response: "Yeah. So?" LOL!
Hey!! I posted and it disappeared overnight. What's up with that? Sometimes I'd like to take Blogger into a dark alley.
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