Inspired by my friend Erin, a new family tradition has emerged: The Back to School Party.
For us, it is a simple affair. I scavenge my home for rogue party decorations, put out a pretty tablecloth, cut some flowers from the garden, and…most importantly, BREAKFAST FOR DINNER.
Erin has a much more elaborate party, and chooses a word for the year for the family to focus on…such a great idea. (You can see her fantastic parties here and here.) I might adopt that in a few years when the kids are a little older. Assuming I remember in advance.
But for me, my goal is a simple tribute to the end of summer, and the beginning of a school year. A shift in focus. A change in priorities.
For us, it’s especially important to have the entire family make that mental transition since we do a hybrid homeschool. The lazy days of doing whatever, playing in the kiddie pool, and riding bikes are mostly over. Sure, there’s still plenty of time for play…but we have work to get done now too. We have places to be. Schedules to keep. Routines to maintain.
In a lot of ways, I think that the night before back to school is more important than New Year’s eve. And frankly, it’s almost more for ME than it is for the kids.
Going back to school can be a time of anxiety and stress…especially for moms. The list of supplies that must be bought is miles long…and the emails!…oh the emails!…that start pouring in. Enough to make me lose. my. mind.
And then you realize that the kids need some new clothes…you suddenly remember that Henry left his lunch bag with a banana in your car at the end of last year and it was so foul, you literally just threw it away…which means, he needs a new one…and don’t forget the paperwork and registration and I DON’T EVEN KNOW. It’s just a lot. (Btw, I don’t remember my parents running around like chickens with their heads cut off like this. Is this new or did I just not notice?)
You would think that with the never ending list of things to do, adding a “party” is the last thing you would want to do.
But it’s really perfect.
You can go as fancy and Pinterest worthy as you want, or you can just use whatever you might already have. Maybe you don’t have a drawer of party decorations to pull from (doesn’t everyone?!)…light a couple of candles and cook your family’s favorite comfort food. My family loves breakfast for dinner…even more than breakfast for breakfast. On last night’s menu: french toast, scrambled eggs, sausage and hash browns. Easy, quick, belly filling and smile producing.
If the idea of a Back to School Party appeals to you, don’t allow it to become another stressor. If you want to go all out and plan in advance with a set theme and a fancy menu, go for it! But if you know that’s just going to add to your Crazy, keep it simple. It isn’t about pulling out all the stops so much as it is about marking the end of summer and the beginning of school. Maybe that’s popcorn and family movie night. Or a special dessert. It really can be anything.
I literally started “decorating” at 5:00 last night. I was done by 5:18.
This picture cracks me up.
I cannot tell you how many meals this child eats with his helmet on. I love that this is one of the ways I will remember his childhood. So busy riding some wheeled thing or another, he doesn’t even realize he’s still wearing his helmet.
Do you have any Back to School traditions?
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Love it! I think even ordering pizza or doing frozen pizzas would have worked for me when I was a kid!
Katie´s last blog post ..Monday Moment: Heat!
I wish I had thought of doing something special the night before school started! Today was our 4th day of Kindergarten, and I think was stresses me out the most is the separation anxiety my boy has when I leave him in the morning….that, and trying to figure in a work schedule that allows me to be there to pick him up in the afternoon. Oh yeah, and then there is the newborn factor so she’s learning very quickly to go with the flow! (taking a baby to work is no easy feat – nor is trying to fit in working from home at night). I’m anxious to get our routine down…and I’m discovering that the more I have ready the night before, the better off I am in the morning.
Kirsten´s last blog post ..This says it all….
Most stressful is filling out the endless paperwork! I hate the paperwork. And it’s not just at school, it’s church and all of the new fall sports activities and such, doctor’s visits, forms for that, forms for this, endless paperwork.
Angie´s last blog post ..Mother’s Day Tradition 2013
i love this idea! i wish i’d seen something like this before school started on monday for us.
the things that stress me out about a new school year? balancing full-time jobs, school for all of us, extracurriculars for all of us (only 1 each!), and then still having time to enjoy one another while also incorporating a not-so-nice parent who lives halfway around the world. we plug along a day at a time!
I work at a high school (don’t have kids yet, but have one on the way)
and I totally understand the back to school stress!
For me, the two things that stress me out the most are the flocks of
parents with their kids that are all stressing out at the same time (which, in turn,
makes me stress more) and the “getting back in the routine” routine.
Getting up early in the summer is so much easier because there is no defined
timeline. While getting up early during school is like a mad rush to the door
and in the car I am always asking myself, “did I apply deodorant? did I brush my teeth?
do I have my school keys?” I am sure when kids are added to the mix it will be even
crazier…
I don’t have school age kids just yet, but the traffic that comes with school starting stresses me out! Pinning your back to school party idea for future! Love it!
Brittnie (A Joy Renewed)´s last blog post ..Dealing with delays
My child is a few years away from school yet, but I get SUPER stressed dealing with Traffic and school zones! My commute to work is impacted heavily by the start of school, and waking up that extra 20 minutes early every day (but still managing to get to work late…grr…) gives me a headache almost daily.
What stresses me out about back to school is adjusting to the new schedule. My oldest son just started high school, so stressing about his workload, study time and EVERYTHING else that comes with HS!!!!!!