pick out outfits for the first day of school! (do not, under any circumstances, be lulled into a false sense of security that, because you have been “doing this back to school thing for awhile” anyone will be capable of picking out clothes when the alarm goes off instead of, for instance, having an emotional breakdown)
buy new sneakers prior to the first instance anyone, according to their letter day schedule - which you have never figured out any year before this so good luck - has gym (too late)
fill out the form about fourth grader’s “strengths” and “challenges” without sounding cocky or like a psychopath
get the tenth grader fully addicted to coffee, because these mornings are not my favorite! (just kidding, haha, actually though, it would make everything so much better and be helpful, like medicine)
make a meal plan you are ORGANIZED THIS YEAR OK?
approach 9-year-old first-day-of-school meltdown with a hug and some empathy, and no questions, even though she just told you she “hated the world,” but five minutes before that she told you it was, “the best day of her life” so do you have, in fact, have some questions
buy glue sticks, it’s an emergency, you didn’t get them, they were on the list apparently
devise a logistics plan regarding the after school activities, which may necessitate a spreadsheet, sos
initiate new plan where everyone enters the house through the back door, therefore utilizing the entrance hallway with shoe rack and hooks for backpacks, as it is meant to be used (“HI, hey, it’s been three days and here you are at the front door, did you forget the new plan about entering through the back? no big deal, no big deal at all, I’m cool with whatever!!!!!!!!!!!”)
look up dentist’s phone number for emergency form, again, and again, you will never learn it by heart, surrender
ask son about how middle school algebra is going; ask what he will be reading in middle school English; ask if those are the same shorts he was wearing yesterday, and to bed last night
coordinate iPhone calendar to work calendar to big paper family calendar in the kitchen to small paper notebook calendar (it is so cute, I won’t give up on it)
schedule cocktails asap
have heart-to-heart with teenager about how it really isn’t fair that high school starts at 7:20, and that we love her and are so proud of her, but also, it is not ok to be a demon in the morning
remove uneaten carrots from lunchbox, withhold futile commentary