Back to School Series ... Planning now for the 1st day

So my 1st post was loaded with information on what I was planning and had also started doing to prepare for myself and my family for the new school year. I am going to cover in this post planning and making some lists.

First, and this might sound kind of harsh. I can't stand going to shop for school supplies when it is so darn busy and overhear a parent say "Gosh, I hate when the 1st day of school comes. It's like la la la and then BAM from the school we need THIS THIS AND THIS" Sorry, this Momma isn't buying that line. As the sun sets each day, you know the 1st day of school is coming.  You wouldn't take a road trip with out putting gas in your car would you? Planning ahead can be amazing and wonderful. Right now, if you are itching to get shopping For the week of 7/6/14 Staples and Office Max had some great stuff going on. Toys R Us is still doing the Buy a Backpack and get a free lunch box. It's summer yes, but deals start the moment it rings Midnight on July 5th. If you have an awesome deal, please share with all the other readers in the comments, we all want to save some money. :)

I can understand it can be a financial burden for some to purchase the supplies. There are school drives, churches, and even talking with your child's teacher about it. I actually spoke to a teacher and she tries to minimize the impact on parents. She buys HALF of the supplies she needs for EACH STUDENT so the parents will only have to buy the other half. She also plans on buying 10 Extra items the parents need in case of a student is in need or ther is a new student transfer. I was amazed by her wonderful generosity towards her classroom and her understanding of some families having financial burdens.

Let's talk lunches! I had the HARDEST time some weeks with my son who was a picky eater. Grapes and carrots. Those were ALL HE WANTED. If you follow my Instagram account devoted to lunches, you saw a lot of those. I worked super hard this summer to open his taste buds up to new things and I will continue to do so. Peaches, nectarines, snap peas, green beans, summer squash varieties etc. This will help my budget in the long run. Grapes can be expensive these days I mean $4.99 a lb, nope, time to try a new fruit.

With lunches, start doing a special day where they try new foods. The rule is "Once to try, twice to decide" so 2 bites. Don't go crazy like if they are a PB & J all the time sort of child and go have them try Escargot. Small steps (This is something that you will want to stick with me through the series. HINT)

When you get an idea of what it is you want, create a lunch list on your computer to print out. Pinterest has a ton, but if you make one customized to your family it might make it easier for you. I presently don't have a list, but I am working on ours. I do menu plan for each meal almost down to snacks and right now it looks a little sloppy since I don't have a planner.

See, it's hideous!

However, as hideous as it looks, it's ours and it's what we like. It don't follow it to a "T" but it does help a lot. When I finally get a planner, it will be planned out by the day and I can get ready. Less stress for a parent is the best "less" you can have. 

I know I hopped from supplies to lunches. So I have some homework for you (don't moan and groan, it will help you)

Assignment A- Make a list of your child's favorite foods. Organize it by category and also snacks. Hang it in your pantry, put it in your meal planning binder, or even on your phone. 

Assignment B- Call your child's/children's school and get their supply lists. Start now stocking up for the rest of summer. 

If you need any other lists, start working on those. School clothes, a list of "Who needs What", maybe if you need to get yourself some things. Like I need a new planner, so I am presently looking for one. Recipe ideas for dinners, a camera to take pictures, a fun sign announcing the grade your little one is going into... there is so much that can be done now to ease your stress.

REMEMBER, if you stress the week before, the night before, or on the 1st day of school. Your child will stress too. Their nerves are already rattled I am sure, having a stressed parent won't help either person. 

Time to start buying... SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Yes, you read the title right. Now before you start throwing stuff at the computer mad because summer is literally almost here. Hear me out on my thoughts, as a PTO/PTA mom and also the VP for now 5 years running, you get to know the teachers. By January and especially February, this is what I hear... "I am almost out of copy paper. " "I need sanitizer, I am on empty" and things of this nature. Before you go "I bought them supplies at the beginning of the school year" I want you to think long and hard about what some schools are able to pay their teachers. For my son's school, and we are 1 RURAL school. I know our school budget isn't much and they make do on so little. I know we grew up hearing "The schools have no money" and it was true then and even more now. Think about the rising costs of living and how little a teacher's salary has gone up. I am not trying to guilt any parent here. At the end of the school year think about how little they have to work with.

So, my solution. The 1st day of school comes every year, same time every year. You know your kid is going to school and supplies are needed.The supply lists come out at various times maybe the 1st day of schools like ours. Other schools may mail it with your teacher assignment a few weeks before school starts. I long ago decided to divide and conquer. There are specifics you can not get until the list is in your hands, paper, markers, number of folders, etc. So I start buying now what I KNOW I will need.

Here is my list I am literally stock piling for the teacher
Tissues
Sanitizer
Sanitizer wipes,
Box of copy paper (some schools demand teachers supply their own)
Colored copy paper (2 or 3 reams)
Pencils
Crayons
Dry Erase Markers
Pencil Sharpeners (for your kid)

These are items that you can get some good deals on slowly to stock up. If they can't use it, there is another teacher who can. Sharing is caring for them or they will be trading Kleenexes for Sanitizer.

I am also stock piling for myself AKA buying clothes on clearance. Plus we order our backpacks and lunch boxes from Amazon. It is their downtime, so I want to get a good deal. Our favorite sports teams are from our home town, so Amazon has the best deals for us.

My list,
Backpack (My son goes through these once a year, this year we had 2)
Lunchbox (Another one of those things that gets a lot of wear and tear)
Thermos (for drinks)
I am shopping for a new lunch box system to have a variety depending on the meals. (Another blog idea)
Wide Ruled Paper (homework)
Homework Box supplies (I will post on this later)
Clothes you know your child will need (Shorts, school uniform items, sweaters, etc)

Start a list on your planner or on your phone. Add things as you think of them, stuff like this you NEED. If you can get a bargain or stock up to help the teachers it is a Dollar well spent

The disappearing weekends

School is almost out for us and as a member of our PTO executive board... we celebrate as much as the teachers. Baseball is going on right now, swim starts the following weekend after school, and then there is this move we are trying to maneuver. With school starting up in mid-late July (year round schools here) the following Thursday after the swim championships.  Every single weekend is book solid with games, swim meets, and other social functions.

I have decided things are going to have to change. I can't do this every weekend booked solid run run run. It's not fair to my husband who is RUN RUN RUN at work all week he needs down time too. He is going to want to veg out on the couch and watch a baseball game or a movie. Plus in Southern Arizona, who wants to be run run run in the hot hot heat?

The disappearing weekend seems to happen more and more these days and for long stretches at a time. With families and kids, do they need down time? How often do you feel is needed? I feel Sunday is church and nothing else unless. We do a Sunday dinner, take walks, and maybe have guests over for dinner. I am horrible at going and going then all the sudden I piled on to much and break down. I at that point cancel the weekend and we have our jammies on Saturday Morning until we go to church.

 What do you do to handle your schedule and make sure your family gets down time outside of sleeping and church?