Today is the first day of school for most of the kids in my area. It’s also the first first-day we don’t have one heading off to school. Aside from the weird feeling that we’re forgetting something, this non-first-day is hitting us where it hurts – in the supply drawer.
No one ever thinks about the toll this milestone takes on a parent. For the first time in our married lives, my husband and I may not have a glue stick on hand. There’s not on single sheet of lined notebook paper to be had, or a spare spiral laying around. All we have are a few torn-open packages of pens. You know, the cheap ones that even the kids refused to use.
I went to see Duran Duran in concert this past weekend (awesome!). Copule that experience with the fact that nearly every store aisle is lined with Trapper Keepers and the nostalgia is nearly overwhelming. I remember the hours I spent drawing the D/fallingD emblem on every notebook, folder, and bookcover I had. I’m pretty sure I signed some of that artwork as ‘Mrs. Nigel John Taylor’ too.
I love supplies. I was the parent with the list and the cart and the hungry gleam in her eye. And yes, I stooped low enough to use school supply shopping as a beard for my Post-It note jones. Okay, I confess. The kids never had them on their lists, but they came in such pretty colors….
*deep breath*
Now I have no Post-Its either, and I’m afraid I can’t go on like this. I’m going to have to head for the nearest Office Depot.
Is it just me? Does anyone else yearn for pencil cap erasers? Is there anything better than a dual-prong folder that has yet to be doodled upon? Do you still get a little misty-eyed when you think back to your first ziplock-closure pencil bag? It’s okay. You can tell me. It’s not like I have anything to write it on, and even if I did, these stupid cheap pens never work….
It’s not just you! I love school supplies. I just bought ten new packs of Hilroy lined paper at Walmart because it was five billion percent off. I love highlighters and pencils and pens. Ooh, and binders! I remember one year I got a Little Mermaid binder and backpack and pencil case and lunch bag to start the school year off right. Okay, that might have been last year. 😛
One of the great things about teaching in college is the fact that I get to still buy school supplies. Back when my son was in grade school I was a single parent so it was not so much fun as it was a lesson in sales shopping.
But now, now I can buy what I want! In fact, I bought 3! sets of Sharpie Highlighters the other day, in 12 colors! I have to confess though, I buy over the internet, shopping IN the stores makes me crazy(er).
I am tempted to buy a metal lunch box too since I normally eat at least one meal at school. Off to peruse amazon I think. 🙂
You know one thing that I will never miss is the heavy duty price tag that comes with those back to school supplies. I long for the day that happens.
So happy you loved Duran Duran. I could pick the mile wide smile you would have had. 🙂
It’s been a long time since I’ve been out of school, and I have no kids to speak of, but I still get giddy when the stores have their special Back to School aisles.
I did buy some supplies this year for a school supply drive at work that benefits foster kids, so I feel like I got to participate a little bit. And I managed to only buy 2 things for myself.
My nostalgia goes into overdrive when I see the old style Pee-Chees. The one with the tennis playing girl on the front, and the skiers on the back. You know the ones. The hours I spent doodling on those things. Those take me back.
I think you need a supply intervention!