Check this link out - it's a GREAT interview with Wendy Bazilian chock full of shopping trip tips, with a bonus contest to win a copy of her newest book! There are two copies of the book and very few entries - your odds are great!
It's 10:30 pm as I type this on Sunday night. The last Sunday night of the summer. Tomorrow school begins for five of my kids. One kid is going to make the jump to public school this year, and so she will be home for another two weeks. But, as of Monday morning at 7:45, those enrolled in Catholic school will be out of my home for a blissful 7 hours. It will be almost quiet.
But, ye cats, people - have we gone through some money this month. Notebooks, folders, crayons and pencils - those items are on sale quite a bit and can be bought a bit at a time. It's not hard to slip a.25 packet of crayons into the shopping cart. The rest of the items, though - they can be budget breakers. Folders, copybooks, contact paper to cover the books, scissors, tape that disappears as fast as I buy it - the list goes on and on and on. And, hello - the CALCULATORS that cost $100?? And flash drives in triplicate! Soccer cleats, shin guards, running spikes and the never ending purchase of textbooks. AND - as evidence of the absolutely STELLAR job that I'm doing - I didn't check the motrin that two of my kids take to school, never mind the benadryl and albuterol inhalers for school and had to make a mad (expensive!) dash to the drugstore at 6 p.m. on a Sunday. F-U-N times, yo.
What really gets me is the clothing. Uniforms aren't so bad - I've been lucky enough to have great success at the used sale, be the recipient of hand me downs from other families, and found some great offers at the church thrift store. Shoes, now - that's a different story. Just try to find chocolate brown or black mary janes or slipons, never mind solid white sneakers. There's really nowhere to buy those things second hand - although, I was able to score two pairs of tie Stride Rites for Gabe for this year and next - for $1. But shoes for six times three pairs a kid gets pretty spendy.
The hardest thing in the entire "back to school" scenario has been my public school girl.
As if you didn't already guess.
The ability to wear anything that she's allowed to - well, that's some pretty heady stuff there after 9 years in a plaid jumper, and it's been a true test of my patience and my nerves. It's no secret that my husband works in one of the hardest hit industries and our income has been cut nearly in half, and the money - well, it's just not there, and my focus is admittedly not so much on purchasing the seventh pair of skinny leg jeans and more on the sky rocketing electric bill. She's been babysitting, and took her money and went shopping - and purchased a mini MINI skirt and three tank tops. To say that I wasn't happy, well that's kind of an understatement. It's been a heated discussion and it's been a daily one. An aggravating, constant topic. "Why don't we have any money? Why can't I buy new shoes and new jeans? All my friends can!" Those friends don't have a larger than normal size family and a dad who is working as hard as he can and treading water. It's a no win situation, and one that we've talked and talked about until we are blue in the face - but I'm not clear how much is sinking in.
I wish that there was a magic solution to the push-pull of never enough money and kids who want the moon and new cross country trainers. As well as a solution to the "I want new clothes and I want them now" that struggles with "I'm not comfortable with the clothes that you have picked out." I can truthfully say that I hate the economy, and I'm sure that my kid feels the same way.
This post was written (truthfully!) for a Parent Bloggers Network Blog Blast. A winning post will be chosen at random to win a $150 gift card - one that I am sure will be appropriated for jeans and shirts and sneakers and the ever necessary "invisible" sock. One other lucky blogger will win a Kindle - and we all know how much I'd LOVE a Kindle.
I actually never though of dying socks burgundy , but knowing myself as I do I think it could be a catastrophe- I am just not the crafty type.
In response to all this ridiculous get a job crap to a person who has TWO jobs, I kind of feel your pain. My husband & I own a small pt practice- he works 70 hrs a week- I run the office and work about 30 hours per week during the school yr and try to get by with 3 short days in summer. I have been asked at least a dozen times this summer when I will be going back to work (teaching)? WTF? I work! Should I go back to teaching to have less time at home & and use my salary to pay some dope who doesn't care to help run our family business? uggghhhh- frustration! Serenity now!!!
Posted by: amie | August 25, 2009 at 06:28 AM
We aren't quite there with the clothing drama yet...my oldest dd is 7, and is tickled pink with the new pair of jeans I bought her from Target (for $2.50! I stocked up, lol)
I have gotten the comment "what are you going to do when the kids are in school?". My kids are getting older, and almost all are in school. I have found that the "busy" part of mothering never ends, it just changes. Now, instead of dealing with bottles and diapers...I'm cooking, cleaning, organizing and errand running until 3pm. Then it's time to start my other job as taxi driver, and dealing with pure mayhem until bedtime.
It is a fulltime job, w/overtime, and I found that I'm busier now than when I worked!
Posted by: Tamara | August 25, 2009 at 10:09 AM
I'm sure you have already, but just in case, have you attempted to point out to said daughter that her new clothes are also probably not in agreement with her school's dress code? They are pretty serious about calling parents over skimpy skirts and tank tops.
This post makes me feel a bit guilty, because I know I had the same argument with my mom when I was a teenager. And I realize now how selfish I was. I also realize that my mother was smart for doing her best with what we did have rather than go into debt buying me more things that would be outgrown/forgotten/lost/out of style in a few weeks or months.
Posted by: Megan | August 25, 2009 at 04:45 PM