Why Back-To-School Takes More Preparation Than a NASA Shuttle Launch.

I have two 5-year-olds who are going to start kindergarten this week. I don’t really remember my first day of kindergarten that well, but I doubt it took the amount of preparedness and paperwork that I am enduring. I think my enrollment was limited to a 3×5 index card with name, address and maybe a phone number. It might have been color-coded. My boys have no less than 38 pages of enrollment forms that need to be turned in at their orientation open house. I didn’t have an orientation open house until I went to college.

The Medical Forms.
This includes, but is in no way limited to, vaccinations, physicals, eye exams, hearing tests, dental exams and allergy screenings, along with family medical history, of course. Once these are filled out, we are asked to put together a kit of kleenex, anti-bacterial wipes and hand sanitizer. I threw in some mosquito netting and malaria single-shots as well…you never know, they may go to the park.

The “Emergency Contact Information” List.
They need numbers for me and my husband, in triplicate (home, work, cell). Then they would like the three closest relatives. Home, Work and Cell for all. My sons will able to drive themselves to the hospital by the time the school is done climbing through the phone tree.

The School Supplies.
I recall picking out a TrapperKeeper, Pencil Box and some pencils. That was for high school. For Kindergarten you need…3-Ring-Binder, Wide Ruled Notebook, Thick-Tip Magic Markers, Thin-Tip Magic Markers, Change of Clothes (sweatpants, shirt, jeans, shorts, socks, shoes), Paint Smock, Glue Sticks (3), Glue Bottle, Lunchbox/Thermos, Sneakers (to be left in gym cubby) and a backpack large enough to carry all items. My sons now have the backpack, filled with all the items. They should be able to lift it by the time they’re 10.

The Upside.
They are excited about starting school. We are moving to a new house in a new town. For the first time they will be sleeping in their own rooms. For the first time they will be seperated and going to different class rooms. For the first time, they are embracing the changes and excited for the possibilites instead of scared of the unknown. As much as the thought of buying shoes that will just sit in a cubby and only periodically be worn makes me fiscally outraged, the putting together of the school kit really seems to be a comfort and catalyst to a new school year full of changes. I guess I’ll just sell put whatever doesn’t get used on eBay next fall.   

Henry and Jack are "go" for kindergarten

Tags: back to school, kindergarten, Nichole Flynn

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 25th, 2009 at 9:36 pm and is filed under Mixed Nuts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.