The Back to School Season

It's mid July and the back to school season has begun. I believe it officially begins on July 5th, at least according to the great Walmart. The section of the store that used to be filled with everything red, white, and blue is now crammed with every school item you could imagine. Rows and rows of pencils, folders, and composition books all perfectly coordinated with your child's most favorite themes. The Jonas brothers can be found on binders, folders, and pencil cases. Twilight is another hot theme and even Ed Hardy has jumped on the back to school bus with his trendy tattoo style art. My kids look to see if their official school supply list has been posted at the store yet, but, ah, too early.

I think the schools and stores are in the back to school hoopla together to try and sell more supplies because every time we use the store provided list we fall short. Just a few days before school starts there is always the dreaded open house. Meet the teacher and get yet another school supply list. So it's back to Wally world to try and find the exact color folders with pockets and tabs. Of course everyone else is there too, franticly searching for the items that they didn't know they needed.

The open house is also where the PTA police are stationed, armed with their sigh up sheet. Beware the PTA! I went to a PTA meeting once, but felt so out of place. I was unaware of the PTA dress code, you know the denim dress or jumper, the white Keds sneakers, and back to school coordinating jewelry. The PTA meeting consists of one big bitch session, what will the first fund raiser be, and who got voted in for PTA president. I donated ten dollars and slide out the back door.

After open house it's all down hill from there. School will start in a few days and everyone is oh so excited. The morning of the first day of school is like Dawn of the Dead. The kids who are used to sleeping till noon are making noises that remind me of walking zombies. But up they must get, putting on their brand new back to school clothes and backpacks filled with 10 pounds of school supplies.

I make a super yummy first day of school breakfast, walk the little tykes out to the bus stop and wave goodbye as the bus pulls away.

A sudden peace falls over the neighborhood, the birds are singing and I crack open the International coffee I have been saving all summer long just for this moment.