Like most families in Nanaimo in September, the Barnes family clan has also been preparing for the back-to-school season. As a previously nervous kiddo myself, this time of year can bring up some anxieties within me for my own kids. I often have to remind myself not to project my anxieties onto my kids. They are not nearly as nervous to go back to school as I ever was, in fact, they are quite excited to see their new classrooms, classmates, and teachers. It doesn’t take long of talking with them to realize that they are smart, outgoing, and ready to get back into the routine of school life.
Getting ready for school looks a bit different for my family now than it did when I was a kid. When I went to school, the stress of back-to-school shopping often overtook the lingering dog days of summer. Fortunately, in Nanaimo, the public schools provide the students with most of the supplies that they need for their steps into education. All that I need to make sure of is that they don’t come to school looking like little wild children; in their cut-off jeans, dirty faces, and bare chests. Sandal tan lines are acceptable. One item that it seems like we buy yearly, that is not supplied by the schools is headphones. I would like to petition for someone to construct and produce headphones for children that don’t break after a few months of use and also do not cost an arm and a leg. Let me know if you have any sturdy suggestions.
With an eleven-, eight-, and two-year-old household of boys, a lot of their clothes are unable to be handed down, as they are SO well loved. I have been asking myself this week, “How many pants does one child actually need?!” I am completely convinced that my middle child (who we often call our middl-est) would prefer to be a nudist. In the last week of summer, we considered it a success if he spent the whole day with clothes on. My oldest’s style can be described as comfort over fashion. However, he has started putting in more thought and suggestions into his clothing choices this year. I am excited to see what his style morphs into. But overall my two-year-old has the best style. I am sure this has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I entirely chose his wardrobe from head to toe.
Another area of disdain for the wardrobe of my children is shoes. Why is it that kid’s feet grow so quickly? Our latest shoe-shopping expedition was the second-hand store, where I was able to find several pairs (in many different sizes) of Converse runners. Our favourite second-hand store in Nanaimo for children is Once Upon a Child on Metral Drive. I’m not exactly sure what the “in” style of shoes is for this back-to-school season, but a good pair of Chucks has always seemed classic to me. We promptly washed and sanitized them, drawing my attention to a few flaws. But I know I am capable of mending them so that they are looking fresh for the school year.
I have found that when I spend a little bit more money on things like backpacks and lunch bags, they will last us more than just one year. My oldest’s backpack is going into its third year of school and my middl-est’s is going on to year four. While this isn’t quite as exciting for my kids, it helps our family with the stresses of back-to-school shopping. One of our criteria for backpack selection is to have our children choose something neutral. Whether this is a solid colour or basic pattern, we try and stay away from character or age-based interests. That being said, they can personalize their backpacks each year with key chains, pins, and doodads. We also remember to wash them thoroughly at least once a year, either at the beginning of the school season or at the end.
It is always bitter-sweet to see the contents of summer leave their school bags (as our kids use their backpacks for summer adventures as well as for school) but we are excited to jump feet-first into this next season. Goodbye to the towels, swimsuits, rocks, sand, goggles, and flip-flops. Hello to daily planners, duotangs, and lunchboxes.
If you have a child in the Nanaimo/Ladysmith school district you may also be interested to read about the NLSF Food4Schools program. Read more here.
September 5th, 2024