As we inch closer to September, what I may need for the kids as they begin the school year consumes my kid-list. New water bottles! More snack packs! Before I know it, I am filling carts and taking names. The joy of back to school is often rushed with the amount of money I end up spending. It goes quickly, as does the year.
I am imperfect and not a close example to a typical mother of two sending her kids off to school, as I get much of what I desire for free or at a steep discount because of my work. But even when I do myself away with all of that, I try and stick to only a few staples.
Of course, there is the list of notebooks, folders, and glue, that are often a must-buy from the teacher’s list. But my staples are often in regards to the things that make the school year feel fresh and new. As some new specs of the fresh-year list come about, some other things get taken away. For instance, every year I get their curls clipped in our livingroom by our dear friend. This year, one evening, I took a hand to it myself. What’s left are surprisingly lightweight and healthier curls. There’s also the reality that my wallet is in tact, and yes, I needed a new pair of shears anyway.
In it’s place, I took the kids on one last vacation to end the summer, which feels like a coin in the tank of fresh. I felt that having kids that are eager to get back to routine, and are pooped from the last-bit of summer fun is possibly more important than curls.
If you’re interested, here are 6 staples I am focusing on:
+ New Sneakers. New kicks for the school year was something I looked forward to as a kid every year. I loved the idea of picking them out, and obsessed about styling them with different outfits. Even though the temperature is warm enough to still wear their summer shoes, new fall shoes are one of those feel-good start of school staples.
+ An Everyday dress. I’m not sure about you, but River loves a basic dress that she can wear multiple times a week. This goes for school, too. She will wear them bare-legged or with tights or leggings.
+ An Everday hoodie to wear in the transition. It’s so odd, but my kids also love something comforting as the year starts. Even if they don’t need it yet, they still like knowing they have a comfy hoodie to carry around.
+ A basic t-shirt. By the time September rolls around there are no stain-free t-shirts in my home. Off to get new ones, and there’s nothing better.
+ Primary Colored Soft Pants. This one is for Oak. The soft pant lover of my heart. The start of the year calls for lots of playground play still. While shorts still work for much of the time until October, soft pants are great for the rotation.
+ A new lunch box (and lunch box things, that somehow have gone missing). So for some reason, I’m quite against keeping the same lunch box year after year. With all of the forgotten lunches and summer adventures, that surely gave it a beating, I need to pass last year’s carrier on.
I’d love to hear, what’s on your list?
This post uses affiliate links, which we may earn a small commission from if you choose to purchase something. Thank you!)
This year Avery is on a full day schedule so she gets to eat lunch at school. While she is excited, I’m here making a lunch menu planner. So far we bought
A new lunch box, water bottle, small containers for condiments and such. Zara had an awesome sale so I racked up on dresses, leggings and shoes!!!
That’s amazing! I also always forget about the condiments, which I always end up dropping in aluminum foil. Definitely need to upgrade this year!
Good luck, Avery!
Hi LaTonya! Loved this list and the beautiful photos of you and your kiddos. I thought it was odd too, but glad to see my babe isn’t the only who has to have a comfy hoodie everyday. We’re in Texas so I’m sure you’d heard about that Texas heat, but of course she has to tote a hoodie around lol, she says it’s cold in the cafeteria. Anyway, our must-have school list includes: water bottle, basic sweatshirts, ruffled collar/sleeve pull-over blouses, a pair of dress shoes and a pair of good sneakers, and easy pull-up pants like jeggings. Of course we buy other things, but these are essentials for us!
The biggest essential for my son was new socks to go along with his new shoes. His summer socks were so sad after all the water/mud/walking without shoes outside adventures! We are looking forward to starting Kindergarten. Eeeek- anything to help ease the transition!!
We just have to get new indoor sneakers this year for my son. He just had his birthday, and has all the new clothes he needs, and my mom also gave him a new lunch kit with a bento-box style metal box, so he’s good! And we have hair cuts scheduled on Wednesday. I might get a new dress for myself too – I always loved back to school shopping and it still feels nice to get something new to feel fresh going into fall.