School Supplies

School supplies are ready...for 2 schools. I went ahead and bought supplies for school in VA since we will move during the year and I am such a miser that I refuse to buy supplies at full price half-way through the year. Also it will make one part of my life easier when the move finally happens....if the move ever happens. It just feels very slow right now and I know that will get worse when school begins and people get busy with fall activities. Keeping fingers crossed and going with a price drop for now trying to stir up interest.

Anyway, back to school supplies. Buying them is simple with boys because they are not so focused on what pretty picture is on them, they just want to get it over with. I understand the large amounts teachers ask for (then they don't have to try to get parents to send in more later), but it is still hard to swallow buying and sharpening 48 pencils to start the year. Or sending in 24 large glue sticks. Here is a dirty little secret that may be happening in your child's kindergarten room: some teachers don't ever teach how to use a glue stick; the children color whole pages with them when it is time to glue one tiny piece on the page. Last year I did not make a friend when I was helping with an art project and stopped each child to teach them the a glue stick is not a crayon and taught them to use a dot of glue, not color the page. The teacher gave a stiff little laugh when she overheard what I was doing. Wonder if she has stock in Elmer's?

I also understand, but have a hard time with community supplies. Yes, it helps students who cannot afford to bring in the supplies and is intended to keep desks neater. My problem with the community property brings us back to the little guy over there coating his entire paper and desk with glue and then I get the request for more. I already taught my children how to use glue and if it was in his personal box he wouldn't have run out yet. Or the off brand scissors available for the table will break so that table only has 2 pairs for 6 kids to share. The school we are moving to is not a believer in the community property system. I am (obviously) not a believer in the community property system either. I believe personal supplies make each child learn responsibility for their own, putting it away, using the appropriate amount, and how to take a message home to relay when more is needed.

Earthquake emergency kits. Last year they were not sent home at the end of the year. I am the insane mother who went back to school on the last day after the kids came home to get their emergency packs. This food and water is negligable. The small kit I put in with kleenex, bandaids, silverware to eat their meal, and trash bag for rain protection are nice to be able to just reuse year after year. The silver emergency blanket I bought for this purpose alone is $6---sorry, I was not able to part with that. The part that troubles me each year is the note we should write to include in the kit. What exactly do parents write on this? How do I know what they will have been through or how to comfort them? Maybe just seeing my writing and a smiley face will be enough to comfort them till I can get there. I hope so. I also hope they never have to use them. Can't get out of this earthquake zone quick enough.

OK, I guess that is enough chatter about school supplies. I should just be happy they are going back next week.
love and hugs, B