Getting It Together: Back to School #2, Preparations.

Wow!   I was getting school supplies, and school clothes shopping out of the way, then Hurricane Irene decided to take away our power for four days, all while transitioning the kids into their school routines.  Sorry it has been a bit since my last post, this is a really busy time for us.

We ended up doing all of our school shopping this year, online.  This is quite unusual for us, we usually like to make an event of it and have a great day with the kids.  My husband was working so much overtime, it just didn’t fit into our schedules this year.  It worked out well, I only had to make one reorder from Kmart.com. 

Living in such a remote location, power outages are a semi annual event, being prepared is essential.  We usually experience the long term power outages during the winter, from ice storms.  Periods with loss of power in the warmer months, we aren’t accustomed to.  This time we had to worry about our freezer and refrigerator food spoiling, having a generator was definitely necessary.  We did fine, having family around to help was nice.

The kids are now days away from starting school again.  We are preparing for this by:

• Starting them back on their school bedtimes (about 2 weeks away from the start of school).
• Having them wake up at the time they would need to be up for school (about a week from the start of school).
• Double checking that they have all of their needed school supplies.
• Creating a routine with the them that they will need to use once school starts.
• Collecting ideas for quick and easy breakfasts, and school lunches.
• Washing up any school clothes that were put into storage, along with seasonal jackets.
• Scheduling any doctors or dentist appointments needed.  Getting any immunizations that the school is requiring for admissions.
• Filling out enrollment paperwork, or other paperwork that the school is requiring for the upcoming year.
• Attending any orientations at the school.
• Making sure that any assignments that may be due from over the summer have been completed.
• Getting haircuts for the new school year.
• Going over the updated school rules with the them, and taking note to how we can comply with them.
• Adding the school calendar to our family calendar.  (staff days, holidays, special days that require us to make other preparations and recesses.)

We usually finish the above list and then celebrate with both of our families for a few Labor Day celebrations.  Due to the power outage last week, we are a bit behind on some of our preparations, so we have bowed out of our normal labor day functions.

My oldest daughter will be starting 7th grade, my youngest daughter will be starting 4th grade, and my son will be starting Pre-K.  It should be an interesting year, but being prepared and starting the year off right helps relieve some of the first day jitters.  Each of them know what they can expect and aren’t overly frightened to start school.  If anything, I am frightened of the paper clutter that is going to come home with them daily!!!  EEEKS!   Oh yeah sorry (recycle bin, lol).