School is in full swing in most areas, and if you're a working mother like me it means a mixed bag of emotions. I'm happy my 6-year-old is back into a regular routine, but I'm not looking forward to juggling Tuesday soccer practice and Saturday games and new weekly dance classes this fall. But I like a challenge and I tend to be anal retentive so when faced with the crazy scheduling that fall brings, I look it boldly in the eye and say, "Bring It!"
Here are some tips for surviving back to school madness:
Save time and sanity when buying school supplies. I drove to every major discount store and office supply store within a 10-mile radius of my house and office to find a certain type of storybook journal for my first grader. Next year I'm buying the preassembled packs our PTO sells in the spring. If your school doesn't offer such packs, then consider using an online source such as EZ School Supplies.
Early to bed, early to rise. At least two weeks before school starts, begin to mimic the fall back to school schedule so that waking up early is as painless as possible.
Stock up on quick, easy breakfast foods. My daughter tends to get a nervous stomach the first few days of school, so I went ahead and bought some special breakfast treats I knew she'd eat, such as the new whole grain Pop Tarts. For a more frugal option, consider making pancakes in bulk on the weekend and freezing them.
Keep your calendar open. Catch up on all family dental, vision, medical, and other appointments at least a month before school starts so you aren't trying to cram those in once fall arrives. Also, don't commit to any extra social obligations during the first month or so of the school year. Your calendar will fill up whether you want it to or not!
Prepare for the school day, at night. I prepare my daughter's lunch and snack and make sure she picks out a school outfit at night. I even set out my favorite coffee mug and my husband's and put my daughter's backpack in the car. Basically any steps I can take at night, no matter how small, give us a little more breathing room in the morning.
Prepare easy dinners and plan for pizza nights. Even if you're trying to cut back on dining out expenses, once school starts it's difficult to prepare a full family meal every night. Plan your meals and make sure you have some "leftover" nights and a stash of frozen pizzas or coupons for your neighborhood pizza place.
Check the weather. I can't tell you how many times I've headed for school with my daughter before heading to the office and realized that rain is forecast and I have no umbrella. Better yet, keep a small umbrella in your car.
Do the backpack check. I check my daughter's backpack and school folder for announcements and other school forms that need to be filled out and I sign them immediately, rather than wait until the day they are due.
Coordinate with your spouse. I work 30 hours a week and my husband is a busy small business owner so our schedules are pretty full. There are times when I need him to pick up our youngest daughter from daycare, especially when our oldest daughter has soccer practice. I can access his online calendar from work or home, which definitely helps us coordinate our schedules.
Make lists, and share them. Consider using an online program that you and your spouse can access, such as Remember The Milk.
Prepare a mom's emergency car kit. Keep a small box or plastic organizing container with things you might need while shuttling the kids around during the school week: antibacterial wipes or gel, a spare outfit, Band Aids, bottled water, a portable snack such as pretzels.
Use carpool time to run errands. Luckily my schedule allows me to pick up my daughter twice a week from school. I usually have a small tote bag with some reading material or I use that time to catch up on phone calls.
So do you have any tips for making the transition from summer to school any easier?
When she's not working or trying to find her daughter's soccer shoes or leotard, Jamie can be found blogging about life as a Southern soccer mom at BlondeMomBlog.
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