Back-to-School Resolutions: Embracing the New Year

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I recently caught a glimpse of my son’s buddy asking him if he had already picked up his school supplies. “Wait. What? School? But it’s still…” Poor kid was blissfully unaware that the lazy days of summer were winding down. Honestly, I’ve been in denial too. It seems like I’ll be left picking through what’s available at the store after all the organized parents have snatched up the good stuff. Ugh.

Alright, it’s time to get my act together, buy those school supplies, and get genuinely enthusiastic about the upcoming year! Although my reluctance may have deprived my son of some cool Trapper Keepers, that doesn’t mean the whole school year has to be a flop. My lack of excitement ends here. We have a fantastic new year ahead, brimming with learning and adventure!

What better way to kick off the school year than to set some resolutions? Here’s my list for the 2015–2016 school year:

1. I will take an adorable photo of all my kids on the first day of school. Seriously. This is going to happen! And while I’m at it, I’ll make sure to snap one on the last day too for one of those cute side-by-side comparisons.
2. I will not forget school picture day. In fact, this year, I will remember to schedule haircuts well in advance. Plus, I’ll fill out the order forms the night before they’re due—not during a last-minute rush before we head out. And I’ll actually frame and display those school photos, instead of letting them collect dust in a drawer.
3. No one will go to bed without knowing where their shoes are. This should save us from a lot of unnecessary chaos. Bonus points for anyone who doesn’t have to sift through the infamous sock basket to find matching pairs. Speaking of which, I’m thinking it might be time to retire that sock basket altogether. So the bonus points will actually go to the kid who helps me sort out all the socks before school starts.
4. I will check my son’s backpack more frequently. Okay, I’m not saying I’ll check it every night—that’s a bit much—but I’ll do it often enough to avoid any embarrassing moments when a three-week-old ham and cheese sandwich is discovered lurking under a pile of papers. Not that this has ever happened to us…ahem.
5. I will sign all permission slips. A by-product of my sporadic backpack checks last year meant I may have, shall we say, overlooked a field trip permission slip. On the bright side, my son got to bond with the school librarian that day.
6. I will read everything I sign. Overcorrecting the permission slip issue by signing everything without reading is a bad idea. Sometimes, a volunteer form is cleverly disguised as a permission slip. I’ve learned my lesson!
7. My teenage daughters will agree to a pact stating that they will not fight in the mornings. I mean, who needs that kind of drama before 9 a.m.? But if they do choose to squabble over the good hairbrush or who gets first dibs on the gray boots, that’s fine. But the loser will have to clean out their little brother’s backpack.
8. I will give better gifts to my kids’ teachers. To all my children’s previous teachers, I apologize for last Christmas when I gifted a lottery ticket taped to a pack of Tic Tacs. But hey, they wouldn’t let me bring wine into the school! This year, I’ll aim to at least attach that lottery ticket to something chocolate.
9. I will refrain from yelling at my kids before school. No matter what they forget or how late we are running. The last thing my dear children should hear from me before they head out for the day shouldn’t be a frustrated shout. I always end up worrying that I might not make it to 3:00, leaving them with a memory of me being upset.
10. I will remember that the days are long—much longer than they were when I was in school. They have fewer recesses and are expected to absorb so much more information. So, I’ll be patient with them, allowing them the space to unwind and vent if they need to. I’ll be there to wipe away the tears when homework gets too tough (before they see me tear up, of course).

So let’s do this, 2015–2016 school year! Our family is ready, as soon as we finally get those school supplies!