School Shopping Jealousy

Growing up, I LOVED back to school shopping. (I was a kid and Mom was buying me stuff.. of course I loved it!!)


I remember the lists of school supplies. Stuff my sister and I would NEED for class. (Besides pencils and paper, most of that stuff was never NEEDED... just sayin')


I remember all the new clothes I planned on getting.... until Mom brought me back into reality by informing me we were only buying clothes I NEEDED... not a single thing just because it was cute... ok, this part I didn't love so much.


When my son started Kindergarten 3 years ago, I was super excited about school shopping. I was looking forward to the list of classroom "necessities" and putting together endless adorable outfits for my little man. 


At Kindergarten registration I was told that there wasn't a "school supplies list". I was told that the school didn't expect the children to bring a single thing to class...... I believe the look I gave the secretary was one of utter SHOCK. What the heck was this lady talking about? Kids need stuff for class... at least some freaking pencils or something?? She told me I could check with the teacher at orientation day, but she doubted I'd get a different answer. 


At orientation I was again disappointed. The teacher didn't want them to bring anything... NOTHING. At this point I was strongly doubting whether I was sending my kid to the right school. What kind of place was this? His teacher explained that all supplies were already provided and they didn't want to put the burden on the parents. Ok, now that was pretty nice of them.... however, I was looking forward to the burden.. I WANTED that burden. 


So I did what any other sane mother does.... I ignored them completely and bought my son every school supply that walmart offered. He was loaded up with a backpack, binder, folders, paper and a full pencil box. My son was prepared for any scholastic emergency that should arise. And of course he was decked out in an awesome new wardrobe. 


By the second week of school I realized I had just wasted money... a lot of money. Not a single item in his backpack had been touched. The only time he even opened the thing was to take out his lunch. And the clothes... oh those adorable clothes... were a disaster. Kindergarten boys get DIRTY... very easily. Why they even make white shoes and white shirts in toddler sizes is beyond me. Every single day this kid came home with a new grass, mud or ketchup stain. 


The next year he went back to that school for first grade. I had officially learned my lesson... well, pretty much. He got a new lunch box and backpack... but that was about it. He was getting new clothes only to replace things he'd outgrown.. and this year we were shopping at the thrift store. I was still bummed about missing out on the whole back to school shopping experience... but at least I wasn't going broke. 


Last year my little man switched school to a private school in our area. I thought FOR SURE I'd be getting a supplies list this time. Nope... instead I was given a bill for "Materials Fee"..... a $310 bill..... Now can someone please tell me  what in the world my second grader would possibly need $310 worth of supplies for? Were they going to give him a new backpack, binder, lunchbox and calculator? Nope. By this time I had given up. I accepted the fact that Back to School no longer meant the greatest shopping trip ever like it used to... 


Yet for some reason I still can't stop going down the school supply isle at every single Target and Walmart I walk into. My son has zero desire for any school stuff. I asked him to pick out a new backpack and he says "why?, the one I have is fine"... I try to convince him he needs a new lunch box, and his response, "Mom, we already have 4 at home." Who's kid is this????? He certainly didn't get his shopping instincts from his mother... And don't even get me started on his clothes. This kid couldn't care less about what he wears. Doesn't care if it matches or even fits him!! He could probably keep all the clothes he has for the next 2 years without asking for a single thing.... except a new Miami Dolphins jersey.. necessities. 


So while everyone else is complaining about the ridiculous supplies lists they're required to shop for... and all the new clothes their kids need after growing 3 inches over the summer... This mom is completely jealous.. and will just have to learn to start shopping for herself =)