Getting Ready for School

I have friends who have had a countdown to the first day of school since the last day of school.  While I must admit I was a little hesitant for summer to start now that school is looming, I don't want it to end.  Have the kids driven me crazy this summer?  At times.  But we've had a lot of fun too. 

Back to school doesn't just mean starting school....it also means back to craziness and mayhem.  It is the start of CCD, dance, scouts, sports, all of the activities that keep us on the run.  Our summer schedule is so much more relaxed and I'm not ready to give that up.  But since I can't fight the inevitable, I guess it is time to prepare.

Shopping seems to be the biggest way I prepare.  I start stockpiling juice boxes and snacks for the lunch boxes, scouring the sales for school supplies (notebooks for a penny at Staples this week!)  It is also a great time to take stock of what the kids have outgrown, clean out some drawers for donations, and grab some great new things on sale.  What would the first day of school be without a great new outfit? 

About a week or so before school starts I start getting the kids back on a school bedtime schedule.  Luckily this isn't usually too difficult because I don't let them go too awry over the summer.  Our school start time is late too, so if we aren't on a perfect schedule it is usually okay.

I encourage my kids to read all summer and occasionally I give them a workbook to do with some math problems.  I try not to let them get too far into the "summer slide".  As school grows closer I push this a little more just to help them get into the routine of schoolwork.

For a last hurrah I pack in the play dates, look over the summer list and try to fit in a few last moments of fun!

What else is left except to stalk the mailman along with the kids waiting for the teacher assignments?