It happens the same way every year. The school calendar days begin to count down and I feel frazzled. You would think I would be ready for it, expecting the onslaught of papers coming home, projects due, last-minute field trips, and end-of-the-year concerts, parties and assemblies. After 19 years of parenting, you’d one would think I would be ready.
Instead, I find myself scrambling. By mid-May I’m wound tight, running from place to place unsure we can fit it all in with a smile on my face (or at least remain standing.) To be proactive I’m doing something about it. I don’t want the rest of the year to feel like a vortex sucking us all down. Not this year. No ma’am. This year I’ve got a game plan.
Here are 10 things to do today to get ready for the end of the school year.
- Get rid of as many papers as you can.
You know the deluge is coming. The art projects, the worksheets, the reports with stickers on the front. Clear out what you have now so you will be ready. And this does not mean just moving it to a new pile or basket. Be ruthless and get rid of anything you don’t need. File away the things you need. Do we even file anymore? Well, you get the idea. Purge the papers. - Create a space.
In the last weeks of school, the kids will be coming home with full backpacks ready to empty on the kitchen table five minutes before dinner. Not this year. Get a basket with their name. Better yet, a box. You can even let them decorate it to get excited about everything they will bring home. Give the box a home and tell them all end-of-the-year stuff goes right in their special box. Set aside a time you can go through it together, preferably not while stirring spaghetti sauce and setting the table. This way you can give all the appropriate oohs and aahs. - Gear up.
Now, hear me out on this. I know the end of the year feels like the last time you would want to stock up on school supplies. But trust me on this. Make sure you have some glue sticks and markers that still work. Have a few sheets of poster board around or some colored paper. Those last-minute, end-of-the-year projects will be a lot less stressful if you can avoid a 9 p.m. Walmart run. Just think of it as getting craft supplies for the “I’m bored” days of summer. - Clear the calendar.
Here’s your chance to get ready. This is not the time of the year to add extra, unnecessary events. That calendar is going to fill up fast and without warning. It’s not the best time to have a stressful dinner party or make extra appointments. Clear what you can to make room for what’s coming. - Track it.
Now that the calendar is cleared, track the incoming dates like it’s your job. Find out when the band concert or the end-of-the-year songfest is going to be. Notice hasn’t come home yet? Check with the teacher or school secretary. They’re usually in the know. If a notice comes home or an email comes through with a class sharing or end-of-the-year hoopla, get it on the calendar right then. Maybe even on two calendars. As much as I like the calendar on my phone, I can’t give up my amazing wall calendar. You can even set reminders on your phone. These dates are important and out of the usual routine. Be ready. Knowledge is power. - Wash backpacks and lunchboxes.
By this point in the year, they’re pretty gross. Do yourself and your kids a favor and wash them now. This is also a great way to make sure they will make it to the very last day. Also, tell the kids to check lost and found for water bottles, sweatshirts, and anything they may have lost track of. (Better yet, swing by the school and check yourself!) - Get shopping.
Teacher gifts are handled differently everywhere. Find out how things are done and get shopping. What you will purchase isn’t much different now than it will be in a few months. This is an easy thing to check off your end-of-the-year list. Get what you need. You can even keep it simple and get every teacher the same thing, like a beach bag with a great read or a gift card. Wrap it up and put it in a designated place. Also, set up a phone or email reminder a week before the last day so you know where you put everything. You’ll be so glad you did. - Invite the family.
With graduations, end-of-the-year assemblies, graduation parties and more, make sure you pass along important dates to grandparents or other special people who would want to come to celebrate. Giving them the heads up early will ensure you don’t forget to invite someone special. - Food stock up.
The last few weeks get crazy, but we all still need to eat. Make a double batch of whatever you’re cooking and put one in the freezer for an easy meal when the days are packed. Stocking up on packaged snacks and quick meals helps too. When you run home from work and school pickup to sports and have to go back out for a science fair you’ll be glad you have dinner prepped. (The crock pot is your best friend here!) Stocking up is also a big help for packing lunches during the last weeks of school when the cabinets usually look pretty bare. - Pick one thing.
As a family, pick one thing you will look forward to doing when school gets out. It can be a day at the pool together or ice cream for breakfast. Have something relaxing you can look forward to doing together after all the craziness has passed. You will all be glad to have that special something to look forward to!
And a final word of encouragement for you fellow parents: You will all make it through this. No matter what the end of the year looks like, no matter how much chaos or calm you find, you will all make it through for another year.
