By Janet Krebs, CONNECT 4 Kids Parenting Coach
PSA! The start of school is on the horizon or in full swing; however, it’s not like the kids are going to Mars. Janet, that’s ridiculous. What do you mean by that?
I just got back from a week of travel visiting a family member who was also packing for a week away at a beach house. It was so funny watching her cook and pack. At one point, I said, “You do realize that you’re not going to Mars. If you get there, and you need something, you can buy it.” She replied, “Oh, I know, I know, I know. But it’s just easier if I just take it, then I know I have it, blah, blah, blah.” It was funny because her husband was in the same room and he was silently nodding in agreement with me.
This is the time when school lists are being published and you’re thinking about the supplies, the pencils, the notebooks, the little lunch tote, clothes, all the things that go into preparing for the school year. I remember this time both as a teacher and as a parent. We relied on the sacred list. You feel like you must shop and get everything on the list all before the first day of school. Check, check, check, check, check. Child is ready for school.
News flash: if your kiddo arrived with a pencil and a notebook on the first day, even the first few days of school, they would survive. News flash: you can always go back to the store any day you want and purchase things that you need. The list doesn’t expire. It’s not like you must do this mass shop and then never go shopping again for school supplies.
I learned this as a mom, but also as a teacher. We’re supposed to send this list home, yet the list is inclusive, and it’s not all needed on day one. So, here’s a little PSA for you: Don’t make yourself crazy by getting every thing on the list. Get a couple of things that you absolutely need and know that you can go back for more. Do kids really need all of this on day one? Let’s not forget, the gifts or the donations for the classroom, the nine boxes of tissues or the hand sanitizer that we need nine gallons. I’m here to tell you, it’s not necessary, not needed on day one. So, if you want to give yourself a break, slow your roll, buy some things that are necessary, and then go back and get the rest at your leisure.
Now, if you are the type of person that just loves to say, “Check, check! I don’t need anything else for my kids for school,” and you love doing the big haul and putting it in the closet or putting it in their backpack, fantastic. I don’t want to change how you do things.
You love the big haul and the excitement that surrounds the ritual. However, I will tell you, if you love the big haul, you will still be going back for more things because there’s inevitably always more things that the kids need. In the meantime, have fun with it. It’s a really, fun time.
In closing, let’s remove the stress from all of it along with the obligation. Let’s set ourselves up and, set our kids up for success with excitement, and less anxiety. It’s a fun time as long as we set the stage for our kids to think of it as a fun time rather than the chore of starting school again. Enjoy the milestone!
