A Chaotic school drop-off this morning — forgotten books, homework, mandatory shirt and tie!– signaling that school really is back in session even if my family isn’t really back in session yet! We will get it together by next Monday. How are you managing the transition from summer to school?
Maybe some of the items on this Ten Things to Like: Back to School Edition will help you get back in gear…
A little note in their lunchbox can be a sweet pick-me-up.
1. Notes in the lunchbox A school psychologist once pointed out the positives of a short, sweet note in the lunchbox, especially for middle school kids. Some days, they feel like nobody is on their side: not teachers, classmates or that mean kid in 8th grade. A little positive note from Mom or Dad can really be a boost. I have used the occasional note with great success. Last year, I spotted these Itty Bitty Kids Encouragement Cards from Hallmark. They are sized perfectly for the lunchbox note. My son was really tickled. ( I found them all saved in his back-pack at the end of the year! Shhhh!) A sweet way to say, “Have a Great Day!”
2. Frozen Juice Boxes I am pretty sure every lunch-packing parent in America knows this trick, but in case you missed the memo: freeze your juice boxes or juice pouches. Then, place them in the lunch bag to keep the sandwich cold. It will slowly melt over time in the morning.
3. A Great Website for Volunteer Activities Attention, Team Moms! Or Room Reps! Or Community Volunteers! Here is the website designed just for you to help coordinate your volunteers , calendar, activities and communication. Check out VolunteerSpot.com . Created by a mother with management consultant experience who had had it with the long chain e-mails and the constant back and forth of trying to schedule snack or drivers or clean-up crews. This mom, Karen Bantuveris , is my hero! You will love this free, easy software that will make your job as a volunteer co-ordinator so much easier. Check out the demo and the super-helpful blog. Karen, now that you have conquered volunteer work, could you get cracking on my “School/Camp/Afterschool Program Medical and Emergency Contact Forms all -in- one- place” idea? Thanks, Karen!
4. A Great Website to Connect Families I know many of you are looking forward to a little quiet time once the kids head back to school. If “Organizing the Family Photos” is on your To Do List, I have a website for you. Or maybe you’ve just had your first baby and want to share every smile, giggle and photo with grandparents across the country, I have a site for you too. Check out wee-web.com . It’s like having your own personal you-tube channel/blog online for your friends and family. You can upload photos, movies, audio- almost anything to create a online baby album or family photo hub. Then, you can invite family and friends to join so they can see every move Junior makes. Started by an enthusiastic new dad and also totally-free, and easy-to-use, wee-web.com is the digital baby album my poor children will never have.
5. A great website for Tons of Back To School Information I love the sensibility at babble.com. Babble.com claims to be for a New Generation of Parents and I guess that includes me because I find it a fun, readable ,well-written resource. The Babble.com Back To School Guide is a comprehensive resources on everything from healthy school lunches to germ prevention to reading readiness. And then, you can scoot over and read all their juicy celebu-mommy news. If I had a staff of eager interns, maybe I could accomplish in a week about half of what babble.com does on a daily basis! But, it’s just me and the dog, so I read babble.com.
It is what it is. The Classic Polo.
6. School Uniforms I am grateful my children both go to school with uniforms. My eyes glaze over when I look at the Sunday circular featuring “back-to-school” clothes. How many bedazzled t-shirts does one child need? Let’s hear it for khaki shorts and collared shirts. Like the Interlocked Cotton Knit Polos from Land’s End. I’m not sure I could handle free dress every day. The mornings are chaotic enough!
Low tech shoes for hip high school kids.
7. TOMS Shoes Has the TOMS love affair hit your part of the country? TOMS are simple groovy shoes made by a company with a mission: for every one pair of TOMS you buy, the company gives another pair to a child in need. Here in Southern California, Tom’s Shoes are now the preferred footwear of the middle school and high school set. Last year, some Girls Scouts at my son’s school even held a TOMS Shoes fundraiser. Kids love’em and I appreciate that kids recognize the charity component. BTW, TOMS has great wedges for women this fall.
8. No TV at Night It’s a relief to turn off the tube now that school has started. More reading, less Wipeout. Though, I may have to sneak in Top Chef while the boys do their Spanish.
9. Getting Involved Your school needs you, no matter what aged child you have or what talent you may have to offer. There is some way that you can be helpful as a volunteer, so if your schedule allows, sign up for something at Back-To School night. Don’t wait or you’ll miss your opportunity. Connecting with the school community can impact your own child’s academic success. Getting involved in your child’s education is an important indicator of how successful your child will be. For tips on how to be a great school volunteer, click here to read Cut The Chaos: School Volunteering at makinglifebetter.com.
10. The College Drop-off Satellite Sisters Style. I wrote about the Dolan family tradition of having my sister Liz drop the younger siblings off at college instead of Mom and Dad. Now, listen to the audio version! Liz dropped by yesterday and lured me out of vacation for a Satellite Sisters Summer Splash Podcast. Hilarity ensued as we told the drop-off story on air! Whew!
Want More Ten Things to Like lists? Click here for the last Ten Things to Like on Tuesday.
Embracing my Chaos,
Lian
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Thanks SO much for the hook up to VolunteerSpot – I just signed on to be my sons’ room parent (second year in a row – the teacher is VERY persuasive). This tool will be a huge help!
A better idea than frozen juice boxes…I get the 8 oz. reuseable plastic bottles (from the walmart mini 6 pack soft drinks) and fill them with MILK and freeze them. A better alternative to sugary juices for lunch. Sometimes even just plain frozen water is a nice drink to go with lunch or sugar free lemonade on the hot days.
Land’s End polo shirts are the best even with no uniforms at our schools. They are good quality and look nice. My son always grows out of them long before they get worn out!
TOMS shoes are popular here in the Dallas area, too. My daughter just bought her third pair for back to school.
I can’t believe I never heard about that freezing the juice box tip. That’s a good one. Where have I been in Mom-land?
Sitting in the fog, wondering if the whale watch will sail this afternoon. Pretty windy. Luckily, the Lodge has a netbook and I’m catching up on the Chaos. Best of luck to all the back-to-schoolers. Fully endorse notes in the lunchbox. I always put notes in my children’s lunch bags. I was rewarded after several years by having my high school daughter make my lunch and slip a note into it too
Nothing like a couple (ok 5!!) Lands End polos to get a kid through the school year. Mine wore them all through grade school.
And my TOMS shoes………very cute, but no support what so ever!! Still, I’d like another pair!
Lian, I thought of you today on my first day in an all boys school. Whew…. so much testosterone.
I agree with the notes in the lunch box. I loathe the thought of the day they don’t want them….
I LOVE these Tuesday lists… and am pretty sure on some of those boys, I saw some Toms shoes in the mix here in the Midwest.
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