Another week has passed and pretty soon it’s going to be time for kids to head back to school. Scary huh? Do you remember when you were little how those first 2 summer months off from school seemed to last forever. The days seemed endless. It was like you were out of school for eons. You’d find yourself up at the crack of dawn and out of the house getting into lord knows what kind of mischief only to hear your Mom calling for your to come home for lunch or dinner. For me I didn’t have many friends that lived in my teeny neighborhood. There weren’t many kids my age, just a few but they were still older than me. I often would go out and venture on my own.
Growing up in the middle of no where, there wasn’t a whole lot to do so I had to have a pretty active imagination. I’d hit up the creek and look for arrow heads, snakes or salamanders. I’d go sit on the old train tracks and bust rocks in half looking for fossils or taking the magnifying glass and burning ants. There were days I’d get up wee early and pack my own lunch – bologna sandwich, a drink, chips and cookies. Mom always had cookies in the cookie jar. This way I could stay out all day… or until it got dark… or worse, until my father yelled for me to “get my butt home NOW.” Yeah when Dad called for us you sure as hell better book it home and fast.
I’d leave the house all clean and kept but would return with dirt on my face, something was torn – I was notorious for ripping my pants. Those first couple of summer months off we’d work in the garden and then have our slew of picnics where people I swear would come out of the woodwork. In our little bitty town that had 3 streets growing up – yes just 3 streets, we didn’t have much. We had a very old playground that wasn’t kept up and most of the equipment was rusted and or unsafe but I’d still head up there just to swing on the swing sets and explore the trails made by dune buggies and off-road bikes.
Then before you knew it “Back to School” commercials and ads were out in full force. Mom & Dad would groan as it meant an expense we didn’t have. I may not have gotten new clothes but they always made sure I had killer pens, pencils and a brand new box of 64 crayons – the REAL ones not those fake ones either. Daddy always found me an old cigar box that we’d line with felt, snug up the lid and add a clasp to keep it shut. We’d decorate it with stickers and glitter. While I secretly wanted a ‘real’ store-bought pencil box like my friends I knew, even at that young of an age that those homemade pencil boxes were priceless. I so wish I had one of those still but when you’re a kid you never think of saving things like that. Oh how I wish I could go back in time and tell my younger self “Hold on to these things as they are things money can’t buy or replace”. Okay fine.. I’d also tell myself to invent Google, invest in Apple and that shoulder pads were never EVER sexy.
I’d lie on the floor every Sunday morning looking through the ads writing out a list of what school supplies I thought I needed. I’d do that for HOURS I swear. It’s funny as while we don’t have kids I still get giddy this time of year over Back to School shopping. I am such a dork when it comes to new pencils, pens and stuff that I still buy myself something every year. I love paste, stickers, white glue, markers, pretty pens and pencils. And post-its. Dear GOD don’t get me started on them things. I have a small addiction to them!
What’s cool now is Amazon offers some great ways to help teachers and parents plan for Back to School shopping for classroom supplies. It’s a new way for K-12 teachers to create and share online back-to-school supply lists with parents. With everything from pencils and rulers to calculators and binders, parents can complete back-to-school shopping in just a few clicks. Definitely check it out!
What I ALSO love love love is what they’ve done for College Kids – I mean we can’t forget about them either, right?! One of these days I’ll have to share with my college misadventures. For your college kids you can get great deals on Textbooks (buy or renting), dorm room essentials, apartment appliances and MUST-HAVE computer gear! I love that you can save up to 90% on textbooks! If you’re unfamiliar with how much books are, we’re talking a few hundred EASILY a piece! Plus they offer renting as well which I WISH they had when I was in school.
One way I can help out your kids (and you) is providing easy menus that can be made either for their unexpected “Mom I’m only here to do my laundry.. oh what’s that to eat???” or stuff you can put in their fridge to ensure that they are eating more than just cereal and ramen noodles.
♥ Monday – Chicken One Pot Pastabilities
♥ Tuesday – Chorizo Sliders
♥ Wednesday – Creamy Baked Gnocchi with Arugula and Sausage
♥ Thursday – Stuffed Breakfast Boats
♥ Friday – Ultimate Pittsburgh Steak Wedgie
♥ Saturday – Unstuffed Cabbage Lasagna
♥ Sunday – Potato Gnocchi in a Bacon Cream Sauce
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