Four kids and mucho money later - invested in school clothes, THOUGHT- why don’t we
throw some Christmas decorations and gifts in our carts while we are compiling the usual needs of back to school underwear, socks, notebook paper, and elmers glue into our carts. Because,
the only thing that ranks up there with back to school shopping is Christmas
minus the usual presentation of shiny gift wrap and bows. However, the downfall
is back to school shopping doesn't supply parents with a much needed survival
kit to survive the overdrawn bank accounts and complaining teens, like the way
sugar plums, gingerbread men, and candy canes dance in our heads during Christmas- Of course there is no sugar coated medicated regime for parents at this time – we suffer – and suffer
some more –. I think Will Smith should have really been singing "KIDS DONT UNDERSTAND"
I dread this time of year – all the stores running out of the very
simplest necessity a first grader needs – crayons and glue - a thought comes to mind while fighting an
anxiety attack – hmmm, rubber cement- fumes- happy? C’mon, like I would really
do it.
Let’s take it back a notch and reflect
on my experience of going back to school – grade third.
Excitement, Excitement and more Excitement –
for an 8 year old – I couldn’t wait to get that new box of 64 count crayons, 12
inch wooden ruler, folders with Strawberry Shortcake, #2 pencils, and a new
bag. Now, this is where it all goes downhill. I was a third grade runaway. My
teacher, Ms. Clement was a horrid haggier looking old lady. She was MEAN!! I’m
finally able to talk about my experience, after many nights crying into my pillow about the way
she use to make me cry, lol, Really? She
used my ruler to whip my palms, gave my crayons to a child less fortunate, and
said Strawberry Shortcake wasn’t real. WHAT? She was to -real, lady. So, I
became a runner, every opportunity I had I would run away from school – if I needed
to use the restroom – I was out the door-
the doors didn’t have time to make the usual loud creaks and cranks to make my escape noticeable
– I ran as fast as my little legs could carry me, which was about 100 feet away
to my house- (hey, I probably wouldn’t have ran, if I didn’t live that close to
the school). The teacher and school principal eventually got the police
involved, so every afternoon between the hours of 11-1pm I was escorted back to
the school by Officer Tsosie and my mom. I know right, my own mama ratting me
out to the cops. This is when my life of crime began. LOL. So, every year after that I was usually the
last one up when it was time to go to Gallup or Farmington , and of course back
to school shopping now had a bad experience attached to it. But, some odd years
later –here are my four SPOILED kids – without any bad back to school experiences-
sucking every penny out of me to get name brand clothing, shoes, bags – sheesh,
like I said Christmas except there is no shiny gift wrap and stockings hung on
the chimney with care–“Do you really need highlighters in every color, what are
you planning on highlighting anyway” and the kid is only in 6th
grade. “Do you really need 3 Areopostale
pullovers? OOHH, and the shoes – SHEESH,
kids and shoes is a whole new story. You can no longer entice them with shoes
that have their favorite cartoon character on the side – Blues Clues, Dora,
Spiderman- those characters no longer
exist in their world – and just think you use to dread going to that isle in
the shoe store- that was nothing. We are now talking about shoes that could
have its own zip code. Boots, Tennis
Shoes, Sports Shoes, Dress Shoes, Casual Shoes – I once mentioned “hey, I can
get you two pairs of shoes for 30 bucks it looks like converse, vans, etc – my
kids looked at me in unison with the look of “what the” (we were at the flea market). I sometimes imagine what it would be like to
be them with a mom like me, naaah, slapping myself back to reality. Suckers.