Back to School Already? Yes, Please!

Photo by striatic on flickr

Recently (as in before July 4th was even said & done) when strolling through the stores, I was *shocked* to see that “Back-to-School” stuff was already heavily displayed. “Back to SCHOOL? It’s barely July!” I grumbled. But then I thought about it, and I think it’s just that the marketers and buyers for the retail outlets are just like me – anxious to get their school-aged child OUT of their personal space and back into the classroom where he or she belongs! Right??

So I decided I’m getting ready for back-to-school!  Sophie’s going to be starting preschool, so for the first time she’ll need a school wardrobe, so I’ve got to get her some cute things!  I’ve already purchased just about all the school uniforms Joshua will need for the year. SCORE!  Here’s what else is on my back-to-school checklist!

1) Check the handbook – if your student is wearing uniforms or goes to a school with a dress code for the FIRST time this year, read the fine print in the school’s handbook or uniform guidelines.  I *thought* I had Joshua all set last year, then at the last minute I had bought him some cargo pants which were not allowed.  I could have saved myself some grief if only I’d been more attentive. D’oh!

2) Check the sale flyers (and your favorite coupon blogs!!) for deals on school supplies.   If you start now, you can break your supply shopping up into smaller trips by what’s on sale each week, rather than going two days before school starts and blowing Jr.’s college fund on glue sticks and 3-ring binders because you gotta have it NOW and will pay ANYTHING.

3) Get the kids back on schedule a couple weeks ahead of time.  Sophie is going to have to be getting up for school for the first time EVER and I expect it to be plenty painful for both of us!  I’m going to start getting the kids to bed earlier about two weeks ahead of time and I’ll probably *gulp* wake her up a couple of days the last week.  I am going to have to get my rear up and ready to take her to preschool also, so I need to get myself on a schedule as well! Yikes!!

4) Don’t forget that something special – back to school can be a hard adjustment for some kiddos so try to work something in your back-to-school shopping budget that is a little bit *special*.  For instance, Joshua has been pining for a Super Mario Bros. lunch box for MONTHS and it’s my goal to get him one to take the sting out of not being able to sit around and actually play Super Mario Bros. all day (not that I let him do that…).  {Score! I just saw in the Target ad yesterday that they have the coveted lunch box for $6! I am THERE!) And since the Soph will be leaving mommy’s side for the first time, I am going to let her pick out a super-cute backpack or first-day-of-school dress to ease that pain.

So, that’s my back-to-school checklist.  I’m sure I’m leaving out something important, so tell me, what’s on your checklist that I should add to mine?

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This post was sponsored by Target who allowed me to use my own voice to remind you that back-to-school is just around the corner. Which is just one more reason they totally rock!