My daughter is now the proud owner of a brand-new Penguins of Madagascar backpack.
That’s it; my days (nay, weeks) of back-to-school shopping are officially over.
Let the second grade begin!
My kid is ready, both physically and mentally.
I’m almost there.
It’s time to bid farewell to summer, but before we do there are a few things we have left to do this weekend:
Magical Meals: Once school starts breakfasts will be abbreviated and consist of dishes that can be made and consumed in less than 10 minutes. Meanwhile, lunches will be packed the night before and most dinners will be made courtesy of our oversized crockpot. Consequently, Labor Day means large homemade meals of my daughter’s choice complete with elaborate end-of-summer ice cream treats (think: double hot fudge and mile-high mountains of whipped cream).
Weekend Free-for-All: To commemorate the end of summer I traditionally allow my daughter to select weekend activities for us to participate in. It’s her last chance to exercise her freedom of choice before the structure of the school year squeezes the fun out of everyday life. She usually has a list of places she wants to visit once more before classes resume, including the pool, beach, zoo, amusement park and paddleboats. You can modify this to fit your own child’s wants, whether it’s getting a mani/pedi, letting her watch Rio five times in a row or spending an entire afternoon playing Wii with a bunch of his buddies. Free choice is one thing, but you may want to set limits. After all, you don’t want your kid starting the new school year with pink hair or a tattoo.
Together Time: My daughter is about as cling… er, affectionate as they come. So getting in extra hugs, kisses and snuggles before school starts is at the top of my list. This is easier when kids are younger, but are children ever too old to be hugged? They may want you to think so, but in most cases, even mute teens appreciate a little affection from time to time… out of the public eye.
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