So, tell me, who does what in your household – you or the kids? (My answers in parentheses after each question)

• Setting alarm and getting out of bed? (So far I seem to be the one waking up 3 kids at 3 different times)
• Picking out school clothes? (Oldest two are on their own, I still get 6 year old’s clothes out)
• Monitoring shower times? (Me, again – I think I need an auto-shutoff timer on the shower)
• Making breakfast? (Me – depending on the breakfast request)
• Packing lunches? (Half and half – kids want me to make sandwiches but they pick out “sides”)
• Reminders for the details of teeth, hair, shoes, backpack (Me – but they have to do these things themselves – I just feel like a broken record player)

How about your household? Last year I started off pretty organized and am trying to incorporate a lot of my own advice again this year, but so far, things are still a little bumpy!

(Image: Robot Whimsy Clock from Amazon)

Post from: Blisstree

School Morning Routines – Who Does What

The first day of school has arrived and my kids were actually very happy to go – but not as happy as I was to see them leave!  We had a great summer, but it really was time for every one to return to their regularly scheduled programs!

Oh, happy day!

Post from: Blisstree

The First Day of School

These past few days my daughters (almost 10 and 6.5) have really shown me they are ready to be back in school and NEED to be back in school. They need to take direction from other grown ups. They need to learn to “shut up and color” when they don’t get their own way. They need to have the constant structure and socialization that a full day at school followed by activities provides. And I NEED to be able to have a few hours of peace and quiet each day.

The girls are feeling the effects of getting on mom’s last nerve today. While they had friends over they managed to trash their bedrooms, the playroom and even left a mess in the living room. Now why should I have to clean that up? So today there will be no TV, no phone calls, no computer, and no friends until those four rooms are back up to my standards.

So this morning has been less than pleasant as they stomp around trying to find ways to get out of their consequences. I’m not budging and this is one time I am glad I have”thick skin” and am not affected by being called a “meanie head” or the meanest mom on earth. Actually, I take it as a compliment!

But I think they are starting to get it. This mom is counting down the days…

Post from: Blisstree

Counting Down the Days Until School Starts

Middle School

• How to Support Your Child’s Middle School Success
• Choosing Extracurricular Activities in Middle School
• How Do I Communicate With My Middle School Teen

High School

• Time Management Tips for High School Students
  
• Ten Tips to Help Prepare Students for High School
• Top Nine High School Tips

College

• Tips to Begin Your Semester Right
• How to Become a Straight A Student
• Freshman Tips for College

Post from: Blisstree

Best Back to School Advice

So what do you really need to create a home study area at your house?

Start with a well-lit, solid surface with plenty of elbow room. In my house it is the kitchen table, but a desk would work well too. Just make sure there is enough room to spread out and write. Another reason I like the kitchen table for us is NO TV. The kitchen is pretty distraction-free.

In addition to the supplies you buy your kids for school, middle school expert, Joe Bruzzese recommends keeping the following supplies at home for all those homework project needs:

• 2 packs of loose-leaf paper (a.k.a. binder paper, usually found in packs of 100 or more)
• 1 Box of pencils (24 pencils)
• 1 Box of pens (12-24 pens)
• 2 packs of Post-it notes (2-inch square notes)
• 1 Stapler (Buy the desktop size. The mini-size version holds about five staples.)
• 1 Box of staples
• 1 Box of paper clips (Look for the large size.)
• 3-hole punch (Buy the heavy version and it will last for years to come.)
• 1 File crate (The traditional egg crate variety will do the job.)
• 1 Box of hanging files (The hanging files fit neatly into the egg crate.)
• 1 Desktop calendar (Check the date on the calendar. Look for a calendar that begins in the summer months and continues through the new year.)
• 1 Pack of index cards (3×5 or 4×6)
• 1 Pencil sharpener (handheld or electric)

I keep a large basket in the study area stocked with these types of items year round. Joe recommends printing out the list and keeping in the home study area. As you use certain items up, note them on the list so you can replenish them before that last minute project appears!

Post from: Blisstree

Creating a Home Study Area

1. Check ups and doctor’s notes. My son has his annual physical tomorrow and he will get all of his required shots for entrance into middle school. While I am there I need to get a copy of both of the girls’ shot records, too. I also need to get a doctor’s not for the cafeteria that says my daughter is lactose intolerant and can not be served milk at lunch.
2. Backpacks and lunch boxes. For the past two years my kids have been impatient and wanted to buy the first backpack and lunch box we have seen. Needless to say one changed her mind before the backpack was a month old and the other one was so hard on the backpack that it disintegrated by Christmas. As much as I had to admit this, I think I have to splurge on the quality this year.
3. School supplies. I have printed out each child’s back to school supplies list and keep it in my purse. I have been picking up a few items at a time and will get anything remaining on the list this coming weekend when our state has its tax free shopping weekend.
4. Shoes. Each child will need a new pair of tennis shoes for PE class this fall. I will most likely wait until the last week of summer to pick these up – just to account for the August growth spurts.
5. Clothes. School starts in late August and it will still be hot here. The kids can wear their favorite summer outfits for the first month of school and once they have checked out all the fall fashion trends and temperatures start to go down a bit, we will go through the closets and determine what we need.
6. Essential Binder. Each year I have a three ring binder that is split into 3 sections. In the front pocket I keep the master school year calendar from the school district. Then each child has a section. I keep important handouts, reminders, and info for each child in there so there is no scrambling to find important papers as the year goes on. I need to get the new one ready.

Do you have a master list or another strategy for staying organized at this time of the year? Share it with us!

Post from: Blisstree

My Back-to-school Checklist

They asked a group of girls between the ages of 9 and 15 and this is what they had to say. Kids can be so cruel. When I was that age, we had our own group of mean girls, but I don’t remember them being this mean.

The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander: From Preschool to High School–How Parents and Teachers Can Help Break the Cycle of Violence

Post from: Blisstree

Mean Girls Go Back to School

That all depends on what you are packing. I found that from experience, that packing lunches the night before made it a lot easier to get creative than trying to rush around in the morning. No, I never was a morning person.

Post from: Blisstree

About Those School Lunches