If you have kids, I believe the real New Year’s Day is the first day of school. Because, unlike the January one, this one is truly filled with promise, resolutions and the hope for better days ahead.  If you don’t have kids, the first day of school generally just marks the return of traffic.  Whether your child loves school or not, the first day of school marks a new beginning. Maybe the classes will be better, the new teacher(s) will inspire your child and maybe, the mornings will go a bit smoother this year.

While the actual first day isn’t always a highlight for the kids, school supply shopping sure is. I remember as a kid being excited about the cardboard school supply box. There wasn’t any real variety, no opportunity to show the world your individual style, yet that school box was such a treasure. Same with all the other supplies – no variety of colors. And wow, if you got the 64 box of crayons, wasn’t that fantastic? Such a splurge. The binders were blue covered in a textured fabric. Pencils were yellow. Backpacks were a basic color. Now everything comes in a rainbow of colors and styles.  Too many options.

I don’t do much that would make Martha Stewart proud but the best idea I ever had was to create my own school supply box. While we were out shopping for the kids, I would buy extra filler paper etc. and put it in a plastic storage container. I bought a pack of 5 pieces of poster board and hid them. And when those tri-fold display things became popular, I got one of those too. That way, when someone appeared at 10:07 pm, the time in our house when the kids seemed to remember something they needed desperately for school the next day, I could still act irritated but then I would appear with the item. I was never one to run out at the last minute. I’m more of the tough love sort but this little bit of preparation did help solve some crises. Why someone needs paper reinforcements so desperately that they can’t go to bed is beyond me, but it has happened.

I look forward to the structure of the school schedule. Back to a more disciplined lifestyle. I know others hate that part of the school year, but I find it a positive. The first day of school seems like a chance to hit the reset button and start fresh. Time to make resolutions like maybe this year, I’ll make lunch for Kathryn the night before so I don’t get sidetracked in the morning and forget. Or maybe this year, I’ll use the calendar on my phone, instead of the one in my head, as that one seems to be getting less reliable each year. This year I will take note of early releases and days off so I can plan something or at the very least, not have them be a surprise.  Kathryn might make a resolution to check the weather instead of asking me what it is each day and then telling me I was wrong. She might remember to empty her lunchbox on Friday instead of Sunday night thus eliminating some disgusting finds on Monday morning.

So Happy New Year everyone! I might just have to make a toast Sunday night to kick it off!