So, if you've read my other blog posts, you know our girls are all going back to school after a year of homeschooling. I am super happy and a little sad, but I've purposed to embrace this fun season in their lives and move forward. For me, moving forward means doing lots of preparations to make the many transitions that happen in a school day as seamless as possible. And by preparations, right now I mean lists. Those are easier for me than actually doing something!
Okay. Transition number one is from the bed to the front door. Getting three little girls dressed, fed, looking presentable, and holding a packed lunchbox by 8 am will be no small feat. My oldest Little is not such a morning person, my #2 Little wakes up before dawn, and #3 is somewhere in the middle. By far, our biggest challenge is getting dressed. They each have their own style, but they are all TOTALLY opposed to what I pick out for them to wear on a daily basis. Well then! Solution #1 is to get something like this:
Okay. Transition number one is from the bed to the front door. Getting three little girls dressed, fed, looking presentable, and holding a packed lunchbox by 8 am will be no small feat. My oldest Little is not such a morning person, my #2 Little wakes up before dawn, and #3 is somewhere in the middle. By far, our biggest challenge is getting dressed. They each have their own style, but they are all TOTALLY opposed to what I pick out for them to wear on a daily basis. Well then! Solution #1 is to get something like this:
I think I will get one of these four all three girls. Five shelves for the days of the week, and we will reload on Sunday night. They can decide, with my approval, what goes into the shelves; but once it's done, it's done. Switching out items on the shelves at the last minute will be against the rules, because it will render the dividers useless! #3 will struggle with this rule at first.
Also, I have had lots of luck simplifying our lives by purchasing them one pair of school sandals, one pair of school tennis shoes, and one pair of school boots. They end up having TONS of other shoes, boots, flats, flip-flops, etc., but those are all for the weekend or playtime at home. This keeps us from arguing over what shoes they wear as we're trying to get out the door and (usually) already five minutes late. Let me tell you that I AM SO STOKED that they have returned to their roots this year and actually requested sandals like I used to buy them, only in their updated sizes. Here they are:
Also, I have had lots of luck simplifying our lives by purchasing them one pair of school sandals, one pair of school tennis shoes, and one pair of school boots. They end up having TONS of other shoes, boots, flats, flip-flops, etc., but those are all for the weekend or playtime at home. This keeps us from arguing over what shoes they wear as we're trying to get out the door and (usually) already five minutes late. Let me tell you that I AM SO STOKED that they have returned to their roots this year and actually requested sandals like I used to buy them, only in their updated sizes. Here they are:
These sandals are my absolute favorite that we've had for our girls in the eight years we've been buying them shoes. They are comfortable, they look better as they're worn, and they aren't expensive. The biggest pair we still have will fit #3 (who happens to be a shoe-diva and is likely to balk a bit at this), so I only had to buy two pairs. They'll be here tomorrow! EEK! I love them and will make #1 wear them every. single. day. Because she's easy like that, thank the Lord. They already have tennis shoes, and I'm not ready to think about boots yet.
The rest of my must-haves for back to school, besides what's on their school supplies lists, center around my hardest issue yet. I simply cannot pack them a healthy lunch that they will eat. THEY HATE MY LUNCHES! I haven't really figured out a good menu yet, but I am researching water bottles for their lunch that won't leak. The last time I packed lunchboxes, every water bottle we had would sog out the sandwiches so badly that it would give #1 and #2 Littles a great excuse for not eating their sandwich. Can't say that I blame them, actually.
From everything I've read, I think I might go with this one, because it will fit in their lunchboxes and is dishwasher safe. It's a little pricey, especially when thinking of buying three of them, but not as pricey as a year's worth of drinks.
The rest of my must-haves for back to school, besides what's on their school supplies lists, center around my hardest issue yet. I simply cannot pack them a healthy lunch that they will eat. THEY HATE MY LUNCHES! I haven't really figured out a good menu yet, but I am researching water bottles for their lunch that won't leak. The last time I packed lunchboxes, every water bottle we had would sog out the sandwiches so badly that it would give #1 and #2 Littles a great excuse for not eating their sandwich. Can't say that I blame them, actually.
From everything I've read, I think I might go with this one, because it will fit in their lunchboxes and is dishwasher safe. It's a little pricey, especially when thinking of buying three of them, but not as pricey as a year's worth of drinks.
I think this is as far as I've gotten today with my must haves. I call myself a list-maker, because I prefer that to procrastinator. For this week, ordering sandals and planning is enough!!
What are your back-to-school purchases this year going to look like?
What are your back-to-school purchases this year going to look like?