Wow. It’s not even August and already the aisles at all of the stores are screaming BACK TO SCHOOL SALE! I’m personally not really all that ready to think about it, but I figured I’d better at least start making a dent in E.B.’s list for this year. I was a little shocked at not how long the list was,(because these types of lists are always long) but at how many of each item I am having to buy. 4 bottles of glue…6 glue sticks…what, are they eating this stuff? I kid. sorta. 2 boxes of Kleenex, Germ-X…are we noticing a pattern of “x”? Dial handsoap, 2 boxes of crayons…2 boxes of markers….3 reams of cardstock paper….and on and on. I was all enthused until I noticed every item had some sort of specification. 24-count crayons. Glue bottles in certain ounces. Did you know glue sticks were specified in grams? I start down the aisle, grab a few items, and then have a sudden urge to start rocking and asking strange shoppers nearby to please hold me? and then I turn and head for the checkout.
I’m still not done. Obviously. I have 2 more weeks. Thankfully.
So what are your children’s school supply lists looking like for this year? Managable? Affordable? Or the equivelent of an office supply store on one piece of paper? I want to hear all about it. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
And does anyone else miss the days when all in the world you ever needed to start school with was a Trapper Keeper?
The first time I had to buy school supplies I took my son shopping and nearly had to either kill myself or put him up for adoption before I left the small stash we'd gathered on a shelf and fled the premises. Since then I've paid a bit extra to the company hired by our school that prepackages supplies for each grade. I really thought back to school shopping would be fun but it wasn't. I shuddered when I couldn't find the exact size or brand specified in the school supply list, worried that my kid would be asked to leave the school for bringing the wrong brand of glue stick. It used to be so much simpler. in fact, I don't remember having official lists — we just showed up with whatever we thought we'd need.
oh my goodness. my daughter is starting kindergarten this year. i'm not sure what to think about it. school supply shopping? i don't even know where to begin. i guess I better get crackin'
Trapper Keeper! That made me laugh! School packs…worth every penny!
Luckily our school offers the supply packs as well. I priced the items one year and even taking into account the best sales, you would only save a few dollars buying the items yourself. Its worth it to me to order the supply pack from the school and not run all over town.
Now that I'm teaching again, it's so helpful when all the parents get the supply pack because all of the students have the same thing and there's no arguing or bragging. You really can't go wrong with the supply pack!
I don't miss those days of school lists – I have 1 in HS and 2 in college. Lists are much more condensed. I do remember however, when I was buying all the stuff on your list as well as tennis balls ( for under the chair legs to protect the floors) zip lock bags in 2 sizes, kleenex and post it notes galore!
Hang in there …
The school supply lists are horrible at my boys' school. Horrible.
I've shopped for the items once…never again.
The PTA puts together school supply packs for each grade, and I'll never miss the order date!! I may pay a little more overall, but it's more than worth it!!!
Our 2nd grade supply list was not too bad. Less things on it this year, but much more specific with the sizing of a few items. Last year a simply 16 pack of Crayola Crayons irked me. The 24 packs were 10 cents to 25 cents, yet the smaller ones that we needed were almost $2. We only have a few more items on the list. I bought most before the huge sales because I wanted to make sure we could find them. Flip side, I remember making the lists for my students. I can only imagine what the parents said about my items.
yes!yes! I do! …well… maybe a fresh pack of socks that aren't grass/mud stained… lol