First Day of School Means Shopping – and a Sigh of Relief

It seems like just yesterday I was picking my oldest daughter up from her last day of school. The summer stretched before us and I was a little nervous about how to fill the days. Now, the countdown is on… less than a week until school starts.

I’m not one of those people who say the summer flies by in the blink of an eye. I have two girls, one who is 6 and one who is 3, and they are hard to keep occupied all day, every day. So, on the nicer days I took them to the local beach, Bunny Run Lake, or to the park. And then there were a few play dates and trips to the
library. The best part was our annual family camping trip to Muskegon, where we
enjoyed seven days of fun at Lake Michigan and Michigan Adventure.

But the mornings and evenings are getting cooler. And with that, I have started preparing for the new season. I did my back-to-school clothes shopping and spent a whopping four hundred dollars. I’m lucky that my oldest is not in a size 7 yet, because we could still find some inexpensive separates. But, by the time I bought shoes, socks and underwear – and a couple pairs of pajamas – my budget took a hit.

Next, I will get school supplies and book bags, which I hope to get on sale at the local Kmart.

All the while, I hope I am not the only parent who breathes a sigh of relief on that first day of school. While I enjoy the chance to sleep in and relax during the summer, it’s nice to be back on a schedule. It’s a time where after-school snacks and homework once again become a focal part of the routine.

So, whether you are one who dreads the end of summer or looks forward to fall days, I hope everyone had a great summer break and has a super school year!