Monthly Musings: Back to School

Do you meal plan?

I used to be so great at meal planning. I would plan out the whole month at the beginning and try to vary/plan what we were eating. I’ve gotten worse at it as my kids have gotten older, unfortunately. I find it hard to think of meals that will make everyone happy and that fit into our busy schedule! But, yes, I do still try to meal plan out the whole month.

What are your Back to School Traditions?

To be honest, we aren’t big into the back to school traditions. I take the kids shopping for school supplies and they get a new pair of shoes each year. Honestly, back to school time is when I start putting in LONG hours at the school building and less hours at home. I try to take a first day of school pictures, but that can also be hit or miss depending on how crazy my morning is (spoiler alert: my morning on the first day of school is always crazy!).

Honestly, though…it’s ok! No one in our family minds that we don’t have any special breakfast or dinner. We love going to school as a family and all the times that I get to see my kids while we are at school makes up for all the time that my family sacrifices during the back to school season!

Where do you do your best shopping for kids clothes and supplies?

We always do a Walmart trip for the kids school supplies. I take all the lists and then the WHOLE family goes to the store. Theo takes the kids to the toy section or grabs groceries while I take one kid at a time through the school supply section to pick out their school things. On years I’ve tried to do all four kids at once it’s been so overwhelming, so this system works out really well!

For clothes, we are big thrifters over here! Almost all of my clothes and my children’s clothes are from thrift stores or hand me downs. We have been SO blessed by hand me downs and our local Buy Nothing group.

How do you transition your wardrobe for fall?

I usually slowly make a pile of the clothes that are going out after I wear them. So if I wear a summer top, I’ll put it in the “put away” pile. Then one Saturday when it’s finally looking more chilly than not, I will pull out my totes with fall clothes and hang them up, and stick the summer clothes right into the same totes. I do pretty much the same thing with the kid clothes, putting their summer clothes in totes and pulling out the fall clothes that I have put aside. The only difference with the kids is that I need to stay organized- Tera’s clothes either go into a tote to pull back out next summer, or they go into a bag to hand down to her cousin. Kiah’s clothes all go into a tote for Ezra to use next year. Ezra’s clothes go into a tote for Ori to use in 3 years (lol), and Orion’s clothes go into a tote to take to my friend who has a baby boy.

Theo literally doesn’t do anything because his wardrobe is exactly the same hahaha.

Any end of Summer Trips Planned?

Our DeValve family reunion in Northern MI was kind of our last hurrah to summer! It was wonderful! However, we do have two weekend trips on our calendar in September- one to visit family in Bristol, TN, and one to get together with a friend in Knoxville, TN!

Do Schools in your area start before or after Labor Day?

All of our local schools start before Labor Day! We attend a private hybrid school so our calendar doesn’t exactly follow the local schools, but it usually lines up pretty well. We started school on August 20th and will finish the ’24-’25 school year on May 22 (my birthday!).

What are your Labor Day plans?

Theo will be working, so the kids and I will be looking for some things to do! We have a birthday party to attend on Saturday and on Saturday night our local grass airfield is having a air show, so we will try to go to that!

White after Labor Day?

I have nothing against white and don’t usually follow style rules very well anyways. But…I have four small children and a homestead. I just don’t wear white. Ever. Haha.

Pumpkin Spice…?

Similar to the white rule…I’m not following the rules because I don’t ever drink pumpkin spice! Now, a chai tea latte? I will happily have one of those as often as I can!

Best Life Hacks for Back to School

• Pack lunches the night before
• Keep dinners really simple and easy
• Remember that what worked last year might not work this year, and it’s ok to adjust and get a new plan
• Treat your kids teachers with respect and have an open line of communication
• It’s ok if you don’t hit all the traditions, get all the pictures, finish all of the summer bucket list. Remember that a hug and a smile and the comfort of your presence and support will mean much more than having perfect photos, hair, lunches, and traditions!

I’m linking up with Patty and Holly for Monthly Musings 🙂