With the end of summer coming soon, it’s time to start shopping for the new school year and preparing for the busy mornings. Sales start popping up, the stores become a little fuller, relaxing feels a bit rushed and never long enough. The idea that your kids will actually have to set an alarm in the morning doesn’t really sit well with them. It’s sad to see the summer come and go so quickly but there is a lot to look forward to in September.
The first day of school is fraught with emotion—excitement, anxiety, anticipation—and that’s just the parents!
Traditions can help alleviate the struggle of adjusting to the new busy schedule. Finish off the summer vacation with a ‘goodbye summer’ party like the Kincardine Fall Fair or make each morning ride to school something to look forward to rather than something to dread. Turn that soccer mom minivan into a Karaoke Caravan or set your alarm to your favourite song to dance to. Going back to school should be something your kids get excited about. They get to hang out with their friends, learn new things every day and they don’t have to worry about paying bills or driving in traffic. They don’t realize how grateful they should be but of course, hindsight is 20/20
Shopping for the new school year doesn’t have to break the bank. There are many ways to make the experience a bit more economical and a lot more enjoyable. Stores like West Shore Clothing and Nine Waves bring in new inventory and great deals for the summer clear out sale but can also benefit as a source for back to school clothes. Also try waiting till after the first day of school to shop for supplies. This way your kids have a better understanding of what they do and do not need rather than buying everything and stuffing it in their backpacks in hopes it will come of use. MicroAge Basics has all your back to school needs as well as those home office supplies that your kids keep using.
Your kids don’t really need five new outfits; buy only what your kids really need. Figure out what they’ve outgrown, then determine what they need to fill in those gaps and purchase accordingly.
Early planning and scheduling is greatly beneficial in making the first few days of school less stressful. A week prior to school starting, already have your kids waking up and going to bed earlier. This will hopefully avoid having to drag them out of bed and to the bus stop. Parents.com provides many articles of advice relating to surviving parenthood. And make sure you take care of yourself too. Eat breakfast with the kids, bring the coffee to the bus stop, or go to bed as early as the little ones so that you have enough energy to tackle all the jobs that come with being a parent.
You can’t look after others if you don’t look after yourself.
How do you feel about end of summer break?
At the end of the day, if your kids made it to and from school and you’re all in one piece, you’re doing something right. We all have different ways of shopping, enjoying and planning for the school year. By the time you’ve got a routine down and have managed the crazy schedules, school will be over and summer vacation will there to slow things down again. But of course, there is plenty to do in Kincardine to make the summer just as busy.
Don’t hesitate to contact Morrison MacKenzie at 519-389-7153 or mo@moresold.ca for any questions or comments. Let’s make the rest of your summer a summer to remember.
Enjoy!
