Plan it Out: Back to School Readiness

Welcome back to part to of Back to School Readiness.

As you saw in the checklist ( feature in the introduction of this series) there is a lot of dates you need to think about. Click Here for the Check List

That is why this week I challenge you to sit down and plan out all the dates coming up and for the upcoming school year. 

Step 1: Talk to your kid/kids about playing any sports or joining any clubs. This one simple conversation will help you plan your shopping list and school year more then you will know.

This is so important! One thing I have learned in my adventures of motherhood is kids change their minds A LOT! Don’t assume they want to play the same sport or join the same clubs they did last year.  TALK TO THEM! If they change their mind that is cool (even if they were the most bad-ass flute player or football star) joining different clubs and sports broadens their minds, makes them more rounded.

Once you know what they want.  Make sure this is what they really want, yes be a nag, make sure once you sign them up there is no getting out of it. This is a commitment they are making not just to themselves but to you and anyone else involved so they better be sure.   Then once they are 98.99% sure (let’s face it, it is rare a kid is 100% sure) sign them up.

Step 2: Plan what weekend/weekends you will go back to school shopping. Does your state have a back to school tax-free weekend? Is there a special day you and your kids go out to get everything? Or are their curtain stores (shoes, clothes, supplies) that have one-day sales in your town? Block off the day or days for shopping.

I know this sounds odd to most, especially if you do not live in a place where there is such thing as tax-free weekends. The truth is most people just say oh I will shop and get things when they are on sale or when I need them.  This leads to stress, and chaos, not to mention buying things you don’t truly need and spending money you don’t need to spend.

What is tax free weekend? In some states, they set aside a weekend (around the start of school) and things like school supplies, shoes, and clothes (it varies state to state) are tax-free.

Want to know if your state has a tax-free weekend and what they offer that weekend?  Click here.

Plan one weekend you will knock it all out.  This will also turn into your goal date for getting your house organized.  So, plan accordingly.  More on this in weeks to come.

Step 3: Write down school orientation/back to school night/meet the teacher night. Make it a point to go it is not only good for the student but also helps the teacher get to know you and your needs for your child.

School is just around the corner and you have yet to hear from the school on when meeting the teacher is or back to school orientation is.  Your summer has been jammed packed with both work and play.  You have lost complete track of time.  You finally get a chance to log into the school’s site just to find out Back to School Night is just a few days away, and your schedule is booked. What are you going to do?

Does that sound familiar?  Avoid it look up or call the school districts office and find out these dates and mark the day down now. 

Step 4: Write down the first day of school. Seeing it daily keeps it from creeping up on you.

The first day of school really creeps up on us during the Summer.  Write it down so you will not feel the “where did time go” stress and time crunch.

Step 5: Pick and write out the day/days you will get the first day of school backpack and outfit ready. The sooner you do it the sooner you can do it and forget about it.

This sounds like such a small detail… why bother.  There is always that last minute did we get everything packed stress.  If you get it done shortly after school shopping and just set it aside it is one less thing to worry about when the first day arrives.

Step 6: Write down all personal events (birthdays, anniversaries, vacations, holidays). This is a step that is often overlooked. However, in doing this one step you will save a lot of “Ops I overbooked myself,” moments.

We have all had those moments that we overbooked ourselves. Before the school year starts and the school event dates come pouring in, and you make commitments you can not keep, write down personal events that mean the most to you and avoid the headache.

Step 7: Write down all school events, breaks, and holidays. There is nothing worse when you have little ones and the day before realizing there is no school, you have no sitter and a meeting you can’t reschedule. Let’s avoid the panic and plan ahead.

Most school calendars you can find on line.

There is nothing worse then finding out on a Friday that there is no school on Monday and all your sitters are booked.  Know ahead so you can plan ahead.

Step 8: Write done Sporting Events, Concerts, and Field Trips. These change throughout the year but do the best you can to write them down as soon as you know the schedule.

Sometimes you can’t do this because things are not planned that far ahead I get that but this is just about being one step ahead.  Know ahead so you can plan your life around it without a headache.

Step 9: Write down when progress reports, report cards, and IEP meetings are supposed to be due. If you have a young one this will help remind you that a parent teacher conference will be around that time.

As a mom with a special needs kids I know how overwhelming it can be to not only have parent-teacher conferences but also IEP meeting and the occasional call to come in and speak to someone about your child.  Again, plan ahead and make sure that the teachers and the school knows you would like at least a 1-2 week notice before any meeting unless it is an emergency.

If you have a special needs child also look into getting an advocate to go to the IEP meetings with you. This will ensure your kid gets the best care and educational help possible.

Step 10: Write down any Dr. Appointment your kid has scheduled. Most places have you book months in advance. Once you get busy it is easy to forget. Write it down now makes planning that much smoother in the future.

As the checklist states call now and make an appointment to get your kid in for their school physical now.  Make sure if the school needs any paperwork, records, or prescription you have the school documents ready to go when you go in. 

Also, if your kid needs a follow up schedule now and mark it down. 

If you wait too long to do this your Dr.’s office will be booked, and you won’t be able to get your kid in until after the start of school.  If you have been there you know what kind of problems this can cause and trust me, you don’t want to deal with these issues/stress.

Oh, and because my former occupation was in the dental field make sure you get those pearly whites polished and any cavities filled before school starts too.

Step 11: Write down any and all class parties including your kids’ birthday. If you plan on picking up snacks plan the day to run to the store to pick up snacks and treats. To save on the hustle and bustle of running too many errands in a week I try to match this snack and treat pick up with my weekly grocery trip. If you are ordering cupcakes or bakery goods in advance write down “call bakery,” on that date so the small details don’t slip through the cracks.

Okay guys, confession time.  Last year between putting the house on the market, getting ready to move to another state, the start of school, and just life, in general, I forgot all about my daughter’s birthday celebration in September.  I know BAD MOM move, but it can happen. The day before the celebration at school I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off.  I did get everything done, but still.  Don’t be me! Avoid the stress and write it down and mark down when to order the cupcakes.

Step 12: If you have a soon to be College student start talking college tours, when to go, applications/fees and application deadlines. Write it down when you know.

Help plan for a better future for your kid.

Sit down, find out what colleges they are thinking about, investigate application deadlines and fees, as well as look into tours. 

This can be an overwhelming and exciting time for both you and your child.  Give yourself and your kid time to process and enjoy this experience.

Plan it Conclusion with Printable Calendar

Well, there you have the important days to plan. There will be a few more planning details in the weeks to come, but this here is the biggest and most important chunk of planning.

Here is another bit of advice digital is great, but what if you get hacked or your phone doesn’t back up these dates, worse a virus or you lose your phone or your son drowns it in the dog’s water bowl. If you choose to put it on a digital calendar just print yourself a hard copy and keep it somewhere just in case. 

I myself have it on my digital calendar as well as a physical planner. I just find it easier to review a physical calendar then a digital one.  If its won’t fit in the square then I over booked myself and I know I need to rearrange things.

Need a break down of this post and a calendar. Got you covered.

I hope to see you next week when we dive head first into getting your house nice and organized with my do little by little to ease the stress method.