School begins here August 18th. Yesterday, some of the kids and I went shopping for school supplies. I still have to take two children, then I'll be done with that daunting task. It is not fun in the "Back To School" isle---grouchy parents, pushy kids, crying babies, out-of-stock items, rude sales lady, and everybody in the isle has a shopping basket. 30 people and 10 shopping baskets in one isle does not qualify as a good shopping experience!
I am going to make my own "Back To School" box. I'm going to fill it with markers, crayons, colored pencils, paper, folders, 3-ring whole punch, stapler, glue, pencils, pens, highlighters, etc. During homework, the kids will be able to go to the box and get what they need for their tasks. I've learned that it takes almost as much time
looking for the things they need to start their homework as it does to
complete their homework. Not this year! Mama is prepared! I'll wait until everything goes on sale next week to buy my items. I'm also waiting to buy new lunch boxes---they are over $8 now, but I remember seeing them last year, after school started, for about $3. I'll wait.
I homeschooled the kids for almost 7 years. It was a great, wonderful experience. I put the kids in Catholic school when I had the last two children twelve months apart. It was too much for all of us, having four children that needed schooled, one toddler running around, and one baby that needed the attention that newborns need. Hubby and I let the kids stay in the Catholic school for two years, then put them in public school. The local Catholic school was not what we had expected nor wanted for our children, and we were/are super satisfied with the local public school system. The kids seem no worse for the wear being in public school. They actually love it. They did have to get used to the language used by some of the kids, but I will be honest and say that they probably had already heard some of those words at home-----when Mama stubs her toe the only relief from that pain is a shout of her "favorite" vulgarity! My grandmother used to swear in German. That would be much better. Okay, that's my new goal---when I feel like swearing, do it in German. I wonder if that needs to be confessed---swearing in German? I'll have to ask the Ragemonkeys about this.
I've almost caught up on the laundry from vacation. I thought I was done yesterday, then I discovered a sack full of dirty laundry in the back of the suburban. I guess the child that unloaded the car thought that leaving it would make the vehicle smell better??? I don't know. But, I'm down to two loads, then all the laundry is caught up. That is unless I find that someone has wet the bed this morning.
