We are halfway into summer, and if you are like me, the kids have exhausted all the tried-and-true fun activities and entertainment that were planned for summer break. We have had lake days, pool parties, family game nights, movie marathons, book clubs, and crafternoons. Trying to pack so much fun into two short months can be exhausting and can leave our bodies and minds out of sync with the normal wake-sleep patterns established during the school year. To try and combat this, our home also prioritizes and welcomes summer rest and rejuvenation with sleeping in late, grabbing some naps, and quiet time with reading and devotions.
Adding in scheduled rest this summer will pay off in the long run when summer draws to a close. So, even while enjoying your July, it might be wise to take a moment and think about the fast-approaching new school year too. If we make that back-to-school list now and begin tackling needs one by one, the overwhelmingness of it all might be lessened by August.
In the feature article “The End of Summer Crunch: Why Starting Back-to-School Prep in July Saves Your Sanity,” the author suggests that a few small tasks done in July will lead to a smooth school transition this fall. Many students will be required to get a physician’s checkup before the first school bell rings. Each year, my youngest daughter needs to have her food allergies retested and a new EpiPen prescribed. School nurses always appreciate us having the diagnosis, medical plans, and prescriptions in their office long before the first full day starts.
Another suggested tip was to start gathering school supplies as you go through July. Many schools post their lists of needed paper, calculators, crayons, and Kleenex tissues early on their website or in school offices. While doing summer grocery shopping, swing down the school supply aisle and look for any that might be on sale each week. Stockpile the on-sale items throughout July and the list won’t feel as stressful or as expensive as doing it all in one day. Also, for the best deals, prepare and save the date for Alabama’s tax-free school shopping weekend, which is planned for July 17-19.
Also featured this month is our annual Birthday Party Planning Guide. Whether you have an upcoming 1st birthday party to plan for or an ever-exciting sweet sixteen, you have come to the right place to help make this year’s party one for the books. From cakes and catering to inflatables and flowers, there are local businesses in Lee County who make planning parties their top priority. Check-It-Out-Balloons will create the most elaborate balloon displays and bouquets for the perfect selfie backdrop.
Or, want to get the girls together to paint the perfect birthday pottery pieces? Schedule your party at Glazed, where your personal hostess makes painting fun for the party girl and all her guests. Do you need a rental space for your little nature explorer? Kreher Preserve and Nature Center would love to introduce your party boy and his friends to all the critters found in nature while they enjoy birthday cake under the forest canopy.
While exploring all that July has in store for your family, don’t let all the fun distract you from back-to-school pre-planning. Getting ahead of those daunting school checklists will pay off come August. From one parent to another, Happy July to you and your family, and here’s to prepping for a less stressed back-to-school season.
