I took Rob and William, entering fifth and third grade respectively, to buy school supplies last night. My heart was pounding. My hands were sweating. It was difficult for me to let them choose their own colors/designs, rather than pressuring them into buying what I liked.
Relief came from the realization that I could buy school supplies for myself anytime I wanted to, even if I didn’t have my own list to consult. The nice thing about school supplies is they’re PRACTICAL. I bought two packages of Hello Kitty pencils, but I USE pencils. I bought a large package of many-colored Sharpie markers, but I USE Sharpie markers. I bought six 1-subject notebooks in assorted colors, six folders in colors to match the notebooks, a 3-ring binder with unicorns on it, and a Hello Kitty lunchbox, but I USE….uh.
Some more justifiably practical choices:
Vintage Kitsch Bookplates from Kootie’s Closet on Etsy.
Apples and Pears lunchbox with matching cloth napkin from Mushy Bug on Etsy.
Exercise Books from Three Potato Four. Those of us no longer doing school exercises might find these useful for more literal exercise tracking.
Vintage classroom handwriting charts, in a nice selection of letters, from Three Potato Four.
Rustic Wood Pencils from Patina.
Oilcloth Pencil Case from Love Shine Inc.
I love back to school supplies. I restock the house and get extras of everything for the rest of the year when you won’t see those items on sale.
Amanda | August 12th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Oh my gosh that apples and pears lunch box is adorable! My daughters are told by the school system exactly what school supplies to buy with almost no wiggle room for cute fun stuff. BORING!
Tracy H | August 13th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
I LOVE office/school supplies! Thankfully, in my job I get to purchase that and I keep a nice supply here at work! At home, I get cutesy stuff too. LOVE LOVE LOVE Staples! I have an office supply fetish. LOL
Sigh.
Just Jiff | August 14th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Did you get the new retractable sharpies?! How did we ever live without those! I even keep one in my car!!
1st day of school ritual for me: hitting all the sales at Target, walmart, etc.
PS: Has everyone else already sprayed the kids’ backpacks with water repellant?? I found a can at a yardsale for 25c and had the thought. Not sure why I never thought of it before!
Deanna | August 18th, 2009 at 1:25 pm