| Summer break may not officially be over for another | | | | School Supplies - Most school's update their school |
| month, but I'm getting a leg up on our family's | | | | supplies lists on their websites well in advance of |
| back-to-school preparations. Years past have taught | | | | school starting. I print lists for each child and then |
| me something, plan for it early and get it done! | | | | comparison shop online for the best prices. If you don't |
| The advantages to doing it early are many - stores | | | | have time to comparison shop (or don't feel like it), |
| are well stocked with supplies, we can easily find the | | | | Walmart generally has very competitive prices and |
| sizes we need for clothing and uniforms, we aren't | | | | they are well-stocked on everything. |
| stressed out by to-do's in the weeks leading up to | | | | Scheduling - Back to school is the time of year that |
| school starting, the family calendar is made well in | | | | our family calendar "blows up". With all of the |
| advance so we can work out any conflicts before | | | | drop-offs, pick-ups, practices, car pools and bus routes |
| they occur, and most importantly mom is happy that | | | | to keep track of for three kids, it's no wonder! Getting |
| it's all taken care of. | | | | as much of this information as possible in advance of |
| So, what exactly do my back to school preparations | | | | the start of the school year helps me to prepare for |
| involve? Well, they mainly lie in three areas: Clothing, | | | | how my husband and I will split up the drives, contact |
| School Supplies and Scheduling. | | | | other parents to arrange for car pools and determine |
| Clothing - I start by cleaning out the kids' closets and | | | | what time each child's bedtime and wake-up needs to |
| drawers. While I'm cleaning I take inventory of what still | | | | be. The earlier I get it all in the schedule, the sooner I |
| fits and make of list of what they need. I then enter | | | | can identify conflicts and resolve them. |
| that list of shorts, pants, shirts, socks, underwear and | | | | Try doing your family's back to school preparations in |
| shoes into a simple spreadsheet. I print this and keep it | | | | advance this year and enjoy the rest of summer |
| in my purse as a convenient checklist while we shop. | | | | break, stress-free! |