Back To School Countdown: A Checklist For the Final Days
Posted: Saturday, August 05, 2006
by Laura Trahan
We are a week away from my beautiful baby boy taking his first steps into childhood. Of course, childhood in this situation is the scary, dark doors of the local elementary school as he starts his year of kindergarten.
OK, so the doors aren’t really scary-kind of cheerful actually, but as a mom scared to let her child move to this next stage-I get the privilege of calling them scary. It is, after all, my first born that I am sending away to some strange woman for entire weeks at a time.
This isn’t the image I want for him. I want my baby boy-the one who screams “Molk" at the refrigerator door. The sweet boy who says, “Let’s cuddle," and runs to jump in my bed. Where did the time go?
Well, if this too is your first time to send a kid to school, I understand the anxiety you are feeling. As a reporter, I used to cover the first day of school for the local newspaper. I always went back to the office saying how crazy the people were. I remember saying, “The parents were crying more than the kids. What is wrong with those people?"
Now I know. I considered myself lucky this past week if I could make it through a day without crying. Of course, my husband still thinks I am a little crazy, but his time is coming. Honestly, we are a week away and the man who never takes off of work has asked off for that first day without me prodding. So his tears are coming.
Well, I thought I would share my checklist of decisions that have to be made and materials that have to be gathered before the big day. Just to kind of help you remember some things as well as give you a glimpse into a first time school mom’s life. Please be understanding for us crazy moms these next few weeks as we adjust.
Get the Supplies
Every store is having a sale and you might feel a little overwhelmed with all the people swarming the last bottle of glue. So here is my suggestion: break the list into sections and buy a little each day or check with your school. I found out our school sells prepackaged supplies for each grade level. It is so worth the extra $5 just to have all of the supplies in one place and not have to cart them to school that first day. The profit goes back into the school anyway instead of the major department store.
Backpack
Yes, a backpack can be considered a supply, but because of its importance I am including it separately. Probably the biggest excitement concerning school for my son was getting his backpack. So I am going to pass on the advice I got. First, don’t let those little darlings talk you into a character backpack such as Blue’s Clues, Dora, Superman, etc. and this is probably the best advice I have gotten thus far. Backpacks can last more than one year and are you sure two years from now your child will still be into that character? You are spending the money so you might as well get your money’s worth. Now for the teacher advice, make sure it is big enough to fit a normal file folder size and, if your child is younger, stay away from the rolling ones. The teachers at our school hate rolling backpacks. They say there is not a more deafening sound than 600 rolling backpacks entering the building each morning.
Clothes
Back to school time has traditionally been a time for new clothes. This is up to you and what your child already has. We are still sweating the days away down here in Houston, so it just does not seem reasonable to buy some of the fall clothes. If you are on a budget, like we are, my suggestion is to buy a couple of nice shirts and whatever it is needed. One new shirt will give your kid the confidence he needs that first day. You don’t have to buy a complete new wardrobe if there is no need to do so. Also, check with your school to see if they have a dress code. Some schools have stricter codes than others. Some require uniforms while others just dictate shoe type and length of shorts. Also, don’t forget to buy that Spirit Shirt.
Meet the Teacher Day
This is probably going to be the hardest day for me. It is the signal that the summer is over. Meet the Teacher Days really are great resources to you as a parent as well as your child. It allows you to see how your child will interact with this new teacher as well as gives him a glimpse as to what to expect that first day. Be sure and have any last questions ready for that day, as the first day will not allot any time to talk and meet her. After all, she has 30 kids to be responsible for and teach that first day. But remember, it should just be a quick introduction and meeting. Don’t stay too long, because you want your child to want to come back, to hate to leave so to speak.
If you have not heard about Meet The Teacher Day, I would call your school. If they don’t hold the event, I would ask if you could come by during the days before and schedule a time to meet the teacher while he/she works on their room.
Transportation
This is a major decision. Is your child going to ride the bus, walk, be a car rider or some other sort of drop off? There are advantages and disadvantages to each of the ways. You have to decide what it best for you and your family’s situation. My advice is no matter what form you decide, make sure your child does that the first day. There is nothing more important that getting them in that routine as soon as possible. There tends to be around 800 kids in an elementary school, you don’t want your child to be the one who gets lost in the shuffle that first week.
Lunch
Our school has three lines and a way to pay online, in person, etc. into an account. This is probably the hardest decision for us. The best advice I have gotten so far about this is to ask for the school menu, then sit down with your child and let them decide when and if they want to take their lunch. There are a lot of advantages to buying lunches, like paying and self-sufficiency, but there are a lot of advantages to bringing a lunch as well.
Label Everything!
This is probably the most important last step before that first day. Don’t forget to label everything especially belongings that can be taken off such as coats, backpacks, lunchboxes, etc. You don’t want to have to mend that broken heart when their most favorite thing in the world was sent home with someone else.
So now that you have a list to do, my advice is to take a deep breath and split up the responsibilities. Then go soak in a bubble bath and remember the good times with your child. Then get out, get dressed and make the most of these last few days with your baby. Because if the first five years went this fast then just imagine how short of time it will be before you are handing that same baby car keys.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)mine have been gone but only is invited back. It is nice to have them grown up and watch how you've done.
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