Family - Pocketful of Joules

Jack’s First Day of 7th Grade

Today is the first day of school in our county and Jack’s first day of 7^th grade! He is officially in the middle of middle school – as our school goes from 6^th to 8^th grade. Last year, we marveled over how the 6^th graders look like little kids and the 8^th graders are full grown… so this must be the year that it all happens!

And I’m not ready.

Or maybe I am.

I don’t know.

This was a fast and hectic summer for us. Jack broke his arm the first weekend of the summer, had emergency surgery, was in a splint for a week, then a cast for 4 weeks, then got it off. And now, he’s going through physical therapy to help get his range of movement back. He was home with me on my telework days and on days I went into the office he either hung out with dad, visited his grandparents, or spent time at a local summer camp. We also had some wonderful days at the beach and ate a lot of ice cream.

And now, I send him off to 7^th grade. And I know he’ll do great because he’s an awesome, smart and hilarious kid. He’s also delightfully weird and an absolute powerhouse at video games.

I’m hoping he finds ‘his people’ this year, whether he becomes better friends with classmates, or meets new friends through school clubs. Last year, we had some sporadic issues with bullying, so I’m on high alert for any problems that I need to nip in the bud.

So, here’s to hoping that 7^th grade is a fantastic year!

{As previously noted here on the blog, all photos and/or posts about Jack are run by him first for approval. Jack has approved this message and says ‘hi’ to everyone.}

Like what you see? Share me with your friends!

Back to School: 4 Tips to Make Your Life Easier

*Source: Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash*

It’s that time of year again – we just received our class assignments and school supplies lists for the upcoming year. We don’t go back to class until after Labor Day, but according to my social media timelines some kids are already starting to head back!

Here are a few of my tips to help make the back-to-school craziness go a little bit smoother:

Tip #1: School Supplies Upgrade

Order these labels and stick them on EVERYTHING: Avery Durable Labels.

I’ve been using them for years on school supplies, lunch boxes, water
bottles, plastic containers, ice packs, etc. They are dishwasher safe and hold
up really well after dozens and dozens of washes. I even have a water bottle
from 2 years ago that STILL has the label on it with Jack’s name. These things are invaluable, so keep a pack on hand!

Tip #2: Throw in a Load of Laundry

Hunt down the backpack and lunchboxes your kiddo(s) used last year, throw them in the washing machine and wash them on cold (add a few towels so you don’t waste any space). Then, let them hang dry so that they’re all ready for the coming year. Even if you bought a brand-new lunchbox and backpack, DO THIS ANYWAYS with the old ones. That way when a container of peaches opens up inside their lunch bag and makes everything sticky, you’re prepared with a backup until the new one is clean again. If you have a hard lunchbox (rather than the squishy kind), stick it in the dishwasher for a nice back-to-school bath.

Tip #3: Reintroduce Shoes

If your kid is like mine, they’ve been wearing sandals, flip flops, or crocs
all summer long. However, at our school it is required to wear sneakers on PE days. Well, Jack hasn’t put on socks and sneakers in months, so each August I have him try on his sneakers to make sure he hasn’t grown out of them.

Flow Chart 1: If they’re too small, you now have a couple weeks to
find a new pair. Find them, buy them, start wearing them to break them in so they are ready to be worn for a full school day.

Flow Chart 2: If they still fit, reintroduce shoes and socks to your kid.
According to Jack, socks are evil and so hard to put on after three months. So, we start wearing them sparingly before school starts to get the whining out of the way early.

Tip #4: Do a Clothing Fashion Show

Yes, I know it’s still 90 degrees in Maryland. However, when you realize
your kid grew out of all their pants and long sleeves it will be cold outside
and you’ll be stuck sending your kid to school in capris. Do a quick try-on of
pants, long sleeves and jackets so that you have a couple months to hunt out
sales and gather what you need.

Disclaimer: This post contains an Amazon affiliate link. This means that
clicking on a link may help me earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Like what you see? Share me with your friends!

Summer Vibes

After a hectic start to our summer, this past weekend we tried to unplug a bit with an escape down to Ocean City. We basically played the whole thing by ear because we weren’t sure if Jack would still be in his arm cast, or if my husband would have opportunities to work. But we were able to get away for a long-weekend and it was very much needed.

We are planning to spend a little more time down at the beach in August, but the long weekend was just enough to keep us going for another month!

Like what you see? Share me with your friends!