Okay, We Need to Talk About Back-to-School (Because I Refuse to Be That Mom on the Week Before)
So I’m sitting here, mid-Amazon-list, having what I can only describe as a small crisis, because — plot twist — I don’t have Prime anymore. I know. Gasp. Clutch your pearls. But hear me out: I did the math on my subscriptions and realized I was paying $112 a year for two-day shipping I barely used outside of Christmas, back-to-school, birthdays, and “holidays” (which, when I actually counted, is basically every month except like five, but shush, the math still works in my favor). So Prime got the boot, and now, for the first time in years, I have to actually plan my Amazon cart like a functioning adult instead of clicking “buy now” at 11 p.m. because I remembered we’re out of whatever household-stop-the-world-threat is living rent free in my head.
And honestly? It’s been kind of great. Turns out when you don’t have Prime Video whispering “just one more episode” at you, you get a shocking amount of actual work done. Who knew.
Well back to why you’re here and why I’m writing this at 4am. Two weeks. That’s what we’ve got until school starts mom, and if you’re anything like me, that number just made your stomach drop a little. So I sat down and made The List. Not a Pinterest list — my actual list, since my son’s going into grade three and I’ve officially reached the stage of parenting where I think I know what I’m doing, right up until that moment I actually don’t.
The Kitchen Table (a.k.a. Lunch HQ)
The bento box is non-negotiable — already in the cart (it was $30 at Walmart, but Amazon has it for $16).
Leak-proof compartments are the whole game for anything wet (looking at you, yogurt). But here’s what I almost forgot last year: the bag itself. I seen this Content Creator use these handy reusable snack containers, definitely a must for October’s fruits.
A bento box needs a home — an insulated lunch bag, a thin ice pack, and some hand wipes, they work so much better than napkins.
The Desk Situation (Mine, Not Just His)
Plot twist I didn’t see coming: he needs a desk, sure, expected. But if he’s doing homework at my desk, where am I supposed to work for that hour? So I’m buying him his own desk partly for me too, so I’m not doing the laptop-on-the-counter shuffle every afternoon. Maybe some desk LED lights too (if my bank account is being friendly than usual) — by October it’s dark early and homework hour gets dim fast.
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The Stationery Black Hole
School covers the basics, home is a different economy. Full stationery set at home, extra notebooks, and can we talk about socks? I don’t know what it is with boys, but they vanish into another dimension. Buy in bulk, stop asking questions. And paper — always paper, for the craft time that keeps him busy during his very reasonable two hours of screen time (eight hours at school, bed by 8:30-9, an hour of reading and writing— the math works out fine. That way he won’t have to use my printing paper.
- – Full stationery set for home (pens, pencils, eraser, sharpener, ruler) — even if school supplies the basics, home is a different story — – Notebooks — a couple extra beyond what’s assigned; kids fill them faster than you’d think – Loose paper — for homework, drawing, and the inevitable craft project – Pencil case — one for school, one for home, so supplies don’t have to travel back and forth – Highlighters or colored pencils — useful earlier than you’d expect, even in grade three – A small stapler and tape — projects always seem to need one at 8 p.m.
The Stuff You Forget Until You’re Standing in the middle of Walmart
Swim bag — real one for us since his school swims weekly, and it needs its own quick-dry towel. Didn’t put backpack on the list since you already know if yours needs one (mine survived the first two grades). But watch for: indoor shoes, a light jacket for the backpack, hand sanitizer, tissues, and updated allergy forms schools always want signed week one. Remember a change of clothes for them to keep at school.
- – Desk — his own, separate from yours, so you’re not sharing your workspace during his homework hour – Desk lamp — evenings get darker as the school year goes on (thankfully, I gave him mine, so I just need to buy me one with built in shelves. – A designated spot for you to work — if he’s taking over the desk, figure out your backup spot now, not on day one – A wall calendar or whiteboard — for tracking due dates, spirit days, and early dismissals
Let’s Keep It Real
It’s never the big stuff that trips you up the night before — it’s the socks, the swim towel, the eraser that wasn’t actually in the set. So the plan is: knock it out room by room this week, so the night before school is just a regular, boring Wednesday. Which is basically the dream, the calm before the storm. Have you’re alarm set the week before (at least an hour before you’re used to waking up during the school year). All kinds of crazy sauce things happen on the first day back to school.
- – Socks — buy more than feels necessary; they vanish at a rate that defies explanation – Swim bag — separate from the school backpack, since it needs its own quick-dry towel and container for wet swimwear – Indoor shoes — many schools require a separate pair that stays at school – Weather layer — a light jacket or rain shell that lives in the backpack once temperatures start shifting – Labels or a laundry marker — for anything that could get left behind (water bottle, jacket, swim bag)
Go check your kid’s sock drawer. I promise you’ll find fewer pairs than you think.
Health & Safety
- Hand sanitizer and tissues — small travel sizes for the backpack
- Updated medical or allergy forms — schools usually need these signed within the first week or two
- A spare mask or two, if your school ever asks for one on short notice
- Sunscreen, if there’s outdoor time before the weather turns
Easy-to-Miss Extras
- Spare batteries — for anything battery-powered that suddenly won’t turn on the morning you need it
- Headphones — increasingly common for classroom or homework tech use
- A library bag, if your school does weekly book exchanges
- A folder or binder for take-home papers — so permission slips and newsletters don’t end up crumpled at the bottom of the backpack
- A “everything bag” check — go through last year’s backpack for anything still lingering in the bottom pockets before deciding what’s missing
A Few Sanity-Savers
- A simple morning routine chart — even a basic one cuts down on the back-to-school-week chaos
- A haircut, if it’s been a while — one less thing for picture day
- A quick shoe check — feet grow fast over summer; don’t assume last year’s pair still fits
Write you back soon With love and fire,
V.S. Beals
Servant. Disciple. Woman of the Word.
