I felt a bit taken aback when I received the list of school supplies for the upcoming school year. In the last few years, the school purchased school supplies in bulk and raised our fees a small amount, making it easier for families, as well as ensuring that the kids all have the same stuff, and the right stuff. I felt, with all the Covid junk floating around, it didn’t make sense that this year, we had to bring in our own. But yesterday, I figured it out.
Labelling. Thats why the school didn’t buy this year. Because items are not to be shared, and that is more important than ever this year, so absolutely every item had to be labelled individually. It makes sense that the teachers should NOT be on the hook for such a job.
Such. A. Job.
Today, I sat down with my box of school supplies, my big envelop of mailing labels, and my new electric pencil sharpener, and the work began. Over the course of the day, I labelled around 300 items.
60 pencils
36 markers
72 crayons
48 pencil crayons
13 glue sticks/bottles
17 duotangs
Plus countless erasers, highlighters, rulers, scissors, pencil sharpeners, Kleenex boxes, whiteboard markers, spoons, post-its, and notebooks.
It was as I was coming to the end of my lists that I realized what was on the end of the list.
Indoor shoes. 🤬
I was not set up for indoor shoes. And school starts in a week. And we’re gone this weekend.
So that’s how we ended up running to Saskatoon in the late afternoon.
I am really relieved to tell you all that I was able to purchase all three school-aged kids a pair of indoor shoes that they love, plus two new pairs of jeans, as they have ALL blown out the knees in ALL of their jeans this Spring and Summer! Win! Dekker also got a pair of splash pants, and Rowan picked a backpack and lunch kit from Costco. So many wins!
I promptly brought that stuff home and labelled it all.
My back is achy from leaning over, writing my kids names all day long, haha! You know when you say the same word over and over and over again, it starts to lose its meaning?
Dekker. Dekker. Dekker. Dekker. Dekker. Dekker. Dekker. Dekker. Dekker. Dekker. Dekker. Dekker. Dekker. Dekker. Dekker. Dekker. Dekker. Dekker. Laela. Laela. Laela. Laela. Laela. Laela. Laela. Laela. Laela. Laela. Laela. Laela. Laela. Laela. Laela. Laela. Laela. Laela. Laela. Laela. Laela. Laela. Rowan. Rowan. Rowan. Rowan. Rowan. Rowan. Rowan. Rowan. Rowan. Rowan. Rowan. Rowan. Rowan. Rowan. Rowan. Rowan. Rowan. Rowan.
Yup. Me too.
T – 6 days.
Wow, that is crazy! You must have been dreaming their names at night! 😲 Every pencil and crayon!!! I really hope it all settles down, but I guess the schools are all trying so hard to be diligent for the kids sake. Praying for you as you navigate this all with the kids! Hard way for Rowan to start school, but it’ll be old hat for him in awhile I bet! Oh, my, we just pray for you guys all around that God will keep you all healthy and at peace! Love you all so much! 💗💞
I feel almost griefy about Rowan’s first school experience :/ The changes for him are ENORMOUS, and I’m SO SAD about it! But his teachers have send around an email with the plan/schedule they’ve made up for the kids, and its a TON of effort, made with SO much love for the kids. My heart is both broken and full at the same time. The teachers will have NO breaks from their students, and that is a huge amount of work and sacrifice. We will continue to pray and hope for the best, but I know the school is working SO HARD to make it the best it can be!!
I can just imagine the sorrow for you! That’s what I have been praying for! I see all our grandkids going off to school with masks. It’s just not right!
So hard on a grandma’s heart, I think much deeper/harder for you guys! Will you have to take their temp everyday too?
We just keep praying from afar for each of them! Hugs to you, Hailey! 🌹💖