The invisible load of motherhood changes with different ages and stages, but returning to school can be incredibly challenging. Here is a short list of things I have done behind the scenes to make for a seamless back-to-school week for my second grader and Pre-K kiddo.
- Take a full week of PTO. School starts on a Wednesday for a half day, Thursday half-day, and off Friday. Because eff working parents, amirite?
- Make sure shoes still fit, and uniforms are not too big or too small. Spend a small fortune on uniforms. They do not, in fact, save you money.
- Print out the allergy action plan forms and send them to the allergist, who will then e-mail them to the school nurse.
- Call back the allergist’s office twice because they filled out the wrong form.
- Call the allergist again because you’re out of refills for emergency medication (wonder if the receptionist secretly hates you).
- Prepare chalkboards for the first day of school ritual. Get the kids to smile with the board. Make a cute caption for your social media post. Look at memories from past years. Cry.
- Make a crock pot meal of chicken tacos for an easy weeknight meal with leftovers. Use local chicken breast, bake homemade sandwich bread, and prep fruits and veggies as snacks. Start the year with good habits and instilling healthy dietary changes.
- After pick-up from the first day of school, buy your oldest Chik-Fil-A because you can’t mentally handle arguing about how she doesn’t like chicken tacos.
- Empty backpacks and rinse water bottles.
- Dedicate 2-3 hours to filling out the same forms from last year and reading the back-to-school e-mails. Update the family calendar. Wonder how your mom handled everything. Remember that we were roaming the neighborhood without supervision while she watched soaps and ate Snackwells. Reminisce about being a 90s kid.
- Make sure your children are physically, emotionally, spiritually, and academically sound without yelling. Maintain a loving marriage, multiple close friendships, and a demanding career while training for another marathon because why not?
- Oh, and don’t forget self-care.
