I know there are some who don’t want to hear it, but back to school time is almost upon us. It took me a while to figure it out. I was wondering why there were so many people heading to stores over the past few days.
Parents with a look of shock and horror, smaller children bouncing off the walls in anticipation, and older children, trying their best to ignore the whole process. I’m thankful I no longer have to go through this annual ritual. And I feel for those who do.
As many of you know, it’s not a matter of just picking up supplies. You have to have the right supplies. (Like… are llamas really in this year?) It has to be the proper kind of pencils and the correct type of notebook. Or the right type of screen.
I still come from the age of rocks and sticks. Although I remember very well a brief period where everyone had to have peacock blue ink cartridges for their cartridge pen. Yep. I’m THAT old. Not only did we learn cursive, we had to learn using cartridge pens. With ink that needed time to dry. But it had the time to dry on that long uphill walk to and from school with dinosaurs chasing us.
Some of it isn’t easy to find, and there are other items you won’t find out about until after they get back.
And clothing is something else entirely. I know people who have already gone out weeks ago looking for clothing. First, you have to find the right brand and the right colour, and the right style or you are at risk of ruining a child’s life forever. And if you buy too early, you know there will be a growth spirt and you will have to do it again. And if you wait too late, you stand no chance of being able to check off all of those “right” boxes.
The ads might call it the most wonderful time of the year, but it can be pretty stressful as well. For all involved.
I might be able to avoid it, now that my children have grown. But I feel for you. Take care out there. And good luck finding everything.
