I can’t believe the Back To School season is upon us. By the time this blog hits our website, some places will already be back in school. That just blows my mind. This year, our BTS (no, I’m not talking K-Pop here) is quite different. Our youngest is still home and will be a Junior in high school. Our oldest will be heading off to college for his Freshman year. THAT is a big change for us. Fortunately, my husband and I will be by his side for the move in days. I would die if he told me not to be there!
That brings me to things we can all do to make this season run smoothly for each of us. While I still vividly recall the excitement of getting fresh new clothes for the start of school, raising 2 boys was certainly a different experience. They never pined for new clothes at the start of the year. In fact, my oldest has refused to let me buy him a new backpack since like 8th grade! Yes…he is going off to college with this ratty old thing 🤦🏼♀️
Preparation
If you want to feel prepared for the upcoming school year (whether you have littles in the house or you are a young adult venturing out on your own), then a little prep work can go a long way. There are 3 things you can look at to get you started:
Check out the Plan To Eat app (this is a referral link from me, there is a small compensation should you sign up which is no added amount to you). My family has been using this app since January 2019. I absolutely love it. In our household, I do the meal planning and shopping, and my husband does the cooking. I’m a picky eater, so its really easy to find a recipe online, import it into the app, and then he has all the instructions he needs to make the meal. It also generates a shopping list you can use at the store. And they are constantly introducing new features.
In our house, we use Google Calendar to keep everyone’s schedules running smoothly. If you have another calendar app/tool you prefer, then stick with it. Just make sure you have a calendar or color for each member of your family. As I mentioned, our oldest is going off to college 2 time zones away, but I still put his schedule in the calendar so I know when not to bug him with FaceTime calls 🤣
There is one aspect of the modern era that I struggle with: a clean inbox. Take the time before the onslaught of school to get your email inbox as clean as you can. You don’t want to miss any important emails that come from the school(s) your kid(s) attend. There is nothing worse for their little minds than being the kid that couldn’t go on the field trip because mom or dad didn’t sign the permission slip. Or god forbid you forgot to pay tuition 😱and their college education is suspended.
Clothes & Supplies
Next up is the dreaded clothes and supplies lists.This is an area where our modern day technologies can come in handy. Why waste gas and money going to the store, when you can order school supplies online? As with most of America, we tend to get a lot from Amazon. Let’s face it, it’s easy and convenient. While you may need to physically go clothes shopping (because kids DO NOT STOP GROWING), at least the paper and pencils can be done online.
It wouldn’t be a blog on The Chill Shop’s website if I didn’t do a little plug on what we have to offer. Whether you as a parent deserve a little Precious, or your high schooler wants to add a little bling to their wardrobe, you may want to check out our Eclectic Summer Collection to see if there is something you may want to pick up.
My life is revolving around dorm preparation. And here are some things I learned at my son’s orientation last month:
- Air purifier (dorm rooms get stinky!)
- Ship to room services for move in.
- Dorm sized micro/fridge combo (the fridge shuts off power when the microwave is being used…cuts down on blown circuits…who knew!)
- Most dorm rooms don’t have a trash can…so bring one.
- Bring your clothes in a collapsable duffle bag. Then you don’t have to store a huge hardshell suitcase during the semester.
- Shower shoes for communal bathrooms
Stay Grounded
Whether you are a stressing parent or college student, mental health should always be paramount. Start routines of self help or mental health. One obvious way is with meditation. If you use Apple Music, they have a whole channel dedicated to Meditation. I pop in my earbuds, set a timer for 10-20 minutes (depending on how much time I have) and hit shuffle on that channel. Never fails to refresh me during the day. I also use the app, Calm, as well as Insight Timer. Those two are good if you prefer guided meditation sessions.
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If you need more support than a meditation app, be sure you have professionals (like a therapist or life coach) lined up before the height of stress sets in. If you are in college, there are many resources available to you, you just have to ask. If you are a parent of younger kiddos, then check your local community connections for references they may have.
Another great way to stay grounded is set up some coffee or happy hour dates with friends so you can all support each other in the stresses of back to school. Trust me, you are not the first, nor the last, to experience the stress of school. Rally your tribe to help each other get through this.
Wrapping it up…
If you can get things planned out before the hecticness of back to school actually starts, then you will be set for the season. And if you want to make that special student in your life get warm fuzzies (or maybe you need them), then check out our Eclectic Summer Collection….there is a little bit of something for everyone.
Until next time…
Dianna