Back-to-School, Already? A CEO Mom’s Stress-Less Game Plan

Parents: Don’t hate me, but school is right around the corner... and the holidays will rush in soon after that (but we won't get into that one right now).

Here’s how to de-stress the back-to-school, fall-flies-by rush, from a CEO and busy mom of two:

Start Early

July is a great time to do a clothing inventory and reset, as well as gather school must-haves like backpacks, water bottles, and shoes. Ask yourself:

• Is everything still functional for your child?
• What needs to be replaced?
• Is there anything that can be passed down to younger kids or friends?
• Do you have supplies on hand that can be reused, like scissors or calculators?
• Do you get a bunch of swag from conferences that can be used, like pens or stainless steel water bottles?

You can always cover company branding with fun stickers if your kids are particular about that!

Plan for Purchases

I don’t pick everything up at once. I typically check out Prime Day in July for bulk items that I know teachers will need during the year: pencils, glue sticks, dry-erase markers, printer paper, good-quality tissues, and disinfectant wipes.

As soon as we have the teacher assignments, I reach out and let them know that we’ll have extra supplies for them on Meet the Teacher night.

For the rest of the list, I wait to see what specifics the school provides:
Do we need folders with pockets and brads? Are there specific colors needed for different classes? Once we have those details, we shop locally to finish things out.

Embrace Multi-Pack Clothes

If your kids love athletic wear for day-to-day, look for deals on multi-pack t-shirts and shorts. These offer great savings and usually come in a variety of colors.

Last year, we gave our 13-year-old a $150 budget for school clothes (excluding shoes, underwear, and socks). He picked out a 5-pack of tech shirts, another pack of shorts, and a few pairs of joggers - $75 total! We supplemented with hand-me-downs from friends and family.

My 8-year-old gets all the hand-me-downs from everyone, so we only buy a few new items that he really wants.

Freshen Up the Basics

We replace all socks and undies for each kid at the start of the school year. It’s easy to lose track of what fits when it’s not something you see them in regularly.

We’re a flip-flop and Crocs family during the summer, so socks don’t get much use for a few months. Getting brand new ones before school starts means the kids are comfortable, we aren’t scrambling to find matching pairs, and we can update for any new styles they’re into.

Invest in Good Quality Where It Matters

Kids are hard on backpacks and shoes! I’ve found that spending a little more on a great backpack (looking at you, Jansport!) is worth every penny.

As for shoes, I’m a HUGE fan of Kiziks for our entire family. They hold up well for our super active kiddos and are easy to take off and put on without retying laces, especially helpful for younger kids.

Make It Special

Our kids know we don’t buy all new everything each year, but that doesn’t mean we don’t celebrate back-to-school!

They each get to pick one brand-new item that’s a little more expensive like shoes, a backpack, or a nice pair of jeans, and choose whatever they want for dinner the night before school starts.

Just a heads up -the links listed above are affiliate links. If you buy something we’ve recommended, we might get a little thank-you (at no additional cost to you!). Promise we only share stuff we love.

Wishing you and your crew a smooth start to the school year! And hey, if you ever find yourself needing hands-on help throughout the chaos, Queen of To Do is always here to make life a little lighter.