Moms. We are a crazy bunch and in rare form when it comes to sending our children to school! Generally speaking, there are two kinds of back-to-school moms, those that don’t know better and those that do. Which one are you??
This Mom… OR
That Mom
1. Your child isn’t the only one that has a new back to school outfit and you will lay it out the night before as well…OR
You don’t need a new outfit because you’ll still be in your pajamas. The drive-thru lane will be a snap since all the newbies are walking their kids inside.
2. You memorize the carpool maps and schedule a drive-by right when your child should be on the playground hoping to catch a glimpse of them because you aren’t going to stop and stalk… er I mean watch them. Okay, so maybe you’ll pull over for a minute or two….OR
You memorize your best friend’s drop off and pick up times then see if you can schedule your first lunch date and hair appointment in the same day because you can do it all without kids!!!
3. You set a reminder on your iPhone prompting to you to leave your house an hour before the last bells rings to ensure you’ll be the first in the carpool line…OR
You set a reminder on your iPhone prompting you to pick up your child. Period. It’s been that kind of summer.
4. You bought new brand-name school supplies and got two of everything just in case. You go back to a different store a second time to get yet another set and let your child decided which color/patterns they like better. You decide to keep an extra extra set for home just in case…OR
You scrounge around your house every night of the first week looking for last year’s school supplies. Once found, you make a feeble attempt to cross out the other siblings name. You give up quickly because after all the last name is the same and teachers are smart like that. If forced to buy anything, it’s generic all the way.
5. Your child’s lunch is a beautiful display of cookie-cutter shaped food & reusable fabric sandwich bags. You vow to never ever let your child buy that non-organic, plasticicky, scary scary food they sell in the cafeteria(the word alone sends shivers down your spine)…OR
You start strong with homemade lunches for a solid week then put a $100 into your child’s lunch account and never look back. You are over it.
6. You tear up when you write a special note to slip inside their lunchbox and it happens every day for the first month…OR
You cuss because you totally forgot about that note thingy again. You start to say “I’ll do it tomorrow” but know you are only setting yourself up for failure.
7. Both parents attend all orientation/back-to-school events possible, one takes pictures while the other takes notes. Both choke up about everything…OR
You talk with old friends through the entire orientation and meet the teacher. You almost forgot these events until your best friend texted you so there was no need to tell your spouse about it after the fact.
8. From the backpack to the pencil bag, everything about your child coordinates and displays every monogramming font available…OR
Yet again, you search for last year’s backpack though you’re convinced a reusable grocery bag is a great alternative and very Earth-Day chic, right? Once old backpack is found, you smile because you won’t have to worry about this having the wrong monogram…you’ve never ordered with enough time to get the personalization anyway!
9. You can’t wait to get involved…PTA, room mom, fundraising chair, you name it, you are all over that…OR
Wait, what? Who’s the PTA again? Oh yeah, you write them a check every year and that’s that.
No matter which kind of mom you are, I hope each of us will enjoy the chaos, emotions, and silliness of back-to-school. After all, we share the same hopes for our child’s success in the upcoming year. I wish you the best of luck as your kiddos start school!
Definitely a little bit of BOTH!
My girls will start school next year and I can’t wait to be “This MOM”!
This is quite good. My wife is most similar to 1st category.i.e ” THIS MOM”. Thanks for sharing.
I am a mix of both but I have to do #3 of “that mom” every school year…..