We go back to school in August…..which means Back to school shopping is officially underway.

On a recent shopping outing with my teenage daughter, l realized I like shopping just about as I enjoy vacuuming. But just like vacuuming, shopping is a chore that must be done…I prefer online shopping because there are less crowds, plenty of parking spaces, and the online checkout virtual cashier doesn’t have all that stank attitude. Seriously customer service at some retail stores is being horrible.

When shopping with kids/ teenagers you have to be patient. Adults can be very crabby people we quickly get grumpy, hungry and sleepy just like toddlers do, but instead of throwing ourselves on the floor we express our stank attitudes on the nearest person, which most of the time it’s our kids..sometimes it’s the cashier who is chewing gum testing her “Bae” or taking selfies when she shoulda have removed the security sensor from the clothes instead of waiting until the alarm goes off and people think I’m stealing….sorry I just got crabby.

I have learned after many years of public outburst, crying, yelling, cussing and my kids throwing tantrums  School Shopping CAN’T BE DONE ALL IN ONE DAY. I start school shopping in small batches literally the last week of school I’m bagging up old clothing to donate and organizing closets.

I try to see what can be salvaged for next year and keep those items, but because kids grow so fast, usually stuff doesn’t fit.

I like to start with the stuff they will need right away. It’s still 90 degrees when school starts so I avoid buying parkas, wool coats and snowsuits…I like to buy stuff off-season anyways when it’s 50-75% off.

I like to start with a checklist to see what I can knock out week by week, so I’m not overwhelmed the weekend before school when everyone and their uncle are fighting over the last 3 hole punch binder and trying to locate the washable markers in 17 count of primary colors….does it really matter how many markers are in the box? FOR THE RECORD THEY ARE NOT WASHABLE!!???.seriously who comes up with the dang on school supply lists??? Someone who was a practical joker in school….you know the kid who put tacks on the teachers chair or locked all the bathroom stalls and crawled under…yup that’s who makes us hunt for washable crayons in the 29 count..not 30.. just 29.

I use my own method with my checklist and I try to find as many of the mystery school supply items on the list, but if I don’t my kid will probably get the same education, since I grew up with going to school with 2 pencils and Rainbow Brite packpack…I think I turned out decent.

Quick checklist:

• Short Sleeve Shirts
• Shorts
• Jeans
• Hoodies
• Socks
• Shoes
• Backpack
• Lunch bag
• School supplies (that I’ve been stock piling every time there is a sale)

Happy Shopping!!!