Tuesday thoughts about back-to-school

 It's a beautiful Tuesday!

What are you doing on this gorgeous day?

Thoughts of back to school are on everyone's mind.  We're in the middle of no tax on school supplies and clothing this week, and everyone is shopping.  

Young adults are getting ready to leave for college. High schoolers are finishing up their 40 hours of volunteer activities. Middle schoolers are gearing up for the awkward wonderfulness of the first day of school. 

The elementary school kids are getting their school supplies and are so excited!

Moms are worried about bussing and transportation.  It appears that there are a couple hundred bus-driving jobs available in AAC, because the students will all be starting school at the same time.  I see the wisdom, but it's a hard thing to deal with when you don't have those positions filled.  And no, I don't want to do it LOL.

With that being said, here are some REALLY great tips for getting your kids to school on time, written by Marissa LaScala and Caroline Picard of Good Housekeeping.

• Have a designated spot for all of their stuff.  You could do this easily with an Ikea trunk to sit on, and a couple of hooks.  This way, they have a place for jackets, bookbags, shoes, etc.
• Have your kids help pack their lunches the night before.  It helps to set the routine of getting to bed.
• Make it easy for them to know the time everywhere they go.  You can put one on the bathroom wall, the hallway, their bedrooms, the kitchen, and anywhere else you can think of.
• Simplify breakfast.  Have on hand cereal and fruit, granola bars, overnight oats, or frittata muffins in the freezer.  Just pop those babies that you made on Sunday night, and a bacon egg and cheese bite is theirs for the taking.
• My favorite one:  add incentives for getting out the door on time by saying on Friday afternoon, we can stop by that bakery and each of us gets a treat!

I think that these are great ideas and so easy.  I wish I had thought of these 15 years ago!

Happy Back to School, y'all!