First week of school oh my!!!!

Busy week the twins started kindergarten and took the family on first camping trip.

One important thing I do with my kids is walk to school.  The school is in the middle of our neighborhood and we live a quarter of a mile from their elementary school.  We walk together holding hands and talk about all the fun they will have. It is awesome.

First days of school were always exciting.  The possibilities and catching up with friends.  Now the excitement is for my kids mixed with nerves for them.  Each day will be easier than the next and soon they will be off to college.  Until now we will enjoy each day and help me through the tough times.  Another thing about the first day it you get to see all your neighbors you've never met and how they present themselves.  It's amazing how many people drive their kids to school when they live a block from the school.  What a waste. As the song says these boots are made for walking and that's what they will do.....

The first day of school went great the wife and I did it together.  Now the second day was just me and became a mad house.  The kindergarten classes get picked up in front of the school between 7:50am-8am. I thought they would be out front until 8. Boy was I wrong.  I decided to talk our dog with us on our walk. Knock out things with one stone. We were running a little late, but I thought we could walk fast to get there easily on time.  We arrived at 7:55am great we made it.  As we walk up to the front the last class is just walking in. There are four class and that was not one of my kids.  Now what do I do???? I have two kids and a dog and school starts in 5 minutes.  Thinking quickly I run to the side of the school and tie up the dog. Run to the front head to my daughter's class and drop her off.  Then head to my son's and as I get there on the over-com I hear "There is a dog outside of the lunch room. If it is yours come get him." Oh crap that's me. Hurry drop my kid off and run to the side door by the dog.  As I'm leaving I'm getting yelled at for not checking in the front desk. (Parents are not supposed to be in the school without checking-in). I go get the dog and of course he is barking and the lunch lay has her head pocking out at him.  I untie him as I'm apologizing and trying to get out of there as fast as possible.

I thought public school was going to be this great wind fall.  Whoopee no more private pre-school and full day kindergarten.   Then you realize school is only 8-2:45 so after school care is still needed which is reasonable at $11 a day. So I planned to make lunch for them every day which is around $1 a meal so about $2 a day.  The things is you can make your kids lunch it doesn't mean they will eat it and just order school lunch.  School lunch has changed a lot since I was in school. Now the kids type in a code (or their teacher) and grab their food.  When I was in school if you didn't have money or bring your own you either borrowed from your friends or didn't eat. Not you pick out when you want and your parents get an email saying your kid on the first day of school is in debt $3.25.  WHHHHAAATT.  Damn.  So the next day I send my son with a $10 to pay for his debt and if he going to the cafe again. Let’s hope it goes where it needs to go. I gave my daughter a $5 because she wanted to try it.  The night I get an email now my daughter owes $3.25. AHHHH. Ok let’s figure this out.  I find their paperwork about lunch and found out that I can pre-day. So much easier.  I go to add $20 each on their accounts and on check out they add $1.25 convenience fee. I just can't win.   I have the Chase Sapphire Preferred card which matches 1 point per $1 I doubt this will count as a restaurant.  Each point is $0.01 and if I pre-load $125 to be even.  Which is about 19 meals per kid. Let’s just say 38 weeks in a school year and the kids eat at school 2 days a week at $3.25 a meal means I can pre-load each kid to $247 each.  Giving me 494 points roughly $4.94 extra cash if I pay with a credit card.

Another hidden expense is all the new stuff they need for class.  Look at this crazy list.

1 - Box of Crayons 24/Pkg

12 - No. 2 Pencils

1 - Pink Eraser

1 - Package Washable Markers 8/Pkg

2 - Glue Sticks

1 - Bottle of School Glue

1 - Box of Tissues

1 - Bottle of Hand Sanitizer

1 - Pair of Fiskar Blunt Tip Scissors

1 - Pencil Box

3 - Plastic Pocket Folders with Brads

2 - Wide Ruled Spiral Bound Notebooks

2 - Primary Composition Notebooks

The school had a pre-order list of these.  But if you went through the list you could save a good $5-10 on the supplies.  Since most of these times are the same year after year buy in bulk.

Week one done only 37 more to go.