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Back-to-school shopping never ends
By Deborah Taylor-Hollis
Thinking about the first week of school (actually just three days) in hindsight, I should have stayed in bed that first day of school when the garbage truck pulled us out of our slumber at 7 a.m.
First morning jitters mean that no one has enough sleep, you can't find the scissors to get that sneaky tag out of the new school shirt, and your odds of a dead car battery go up drastically.
As more of us drive our small ones to elementary school rather than let them walk through busy rush hour traffic alone, or ride buses that take over 30 minutes for a five-minute trip, the fear of car trouble looms heavier for kids than for CEOs.
Without mom's car they may very well, not only, miss school, but also soccer, their best friend's play party, and dinner (takeout is at an all time high during back to school week). An added downside of missing the first day of school is that, for most kids, if you don't show on day one you lose your place in that class. Overcrowding means first come, first educated.
Another fact of school is the first-day bank account drain.
By then, you have probably bought at least one new pair of shoes ($15); one pair of pants and shorts, or two jumpers ($35); three shirts ($45); some new "Scooby Doo, Where are You?" underwear--which you had to hunt for in the proper size, since anyone over age 4 is supposed to move on to Batman--($9); haircut ($15); backpack ($12); miscellaneous school supplies, including crayons, scissors or stickers ($10); lunch box in this week's fashion fad ($10); jacket ($35); and a six-pack of whatever color socks are available ($4).
So, just to walk in the door, you've invested $190 on a 7-year-old who can't wait to play dodgeball in the mud.
But that was a slow drain compared to the joy of The First Day.
While your child will not have any homework for the first few days, you will be dealing with paperwork before they even get through the pledge of allegiance.
First, you either need $1.50 per day for lunch, or $45 in one lump sum for the first 30 lunches.
Then, there will be certain school supplies your teacher has to purchase once she runs out of her allotment from the district. Some teachers just put out a wish list and you can contribute items, others ask for cash to go shopping, and some ask for reimbursement.
I figure I'll either spend $40 on miscellaneous stickers, tissues (that's right, they have to buy 'em just like you and I) scissors, paint boxes, crayons, construction paper or copies, or I can just write a $20 check right off the bat.
Then, you have to join the local PTA/Parent Council- yearly dues of about $10 to $15. Checks are welcome, but then they have your phone number on file for all that volunteer selling in December. I'd go with cash.
Next, there's the beginning of the school fundraiser, usually some kind of wrapping paper or candy items. I go with the wrapping paper. It's not only nice and usable, but they have lots of cute candles, too. Final total on shopping trip through catalog: $45.
The school parents also raise funds through T-shirt sales, and every child needs the official school T-shirt, which goes for $12. There are also folders with the school logo that every child needs to be cool, but that's only $2.50 (cash only please).
Before you get cocky, you'll need to pay in advance for at least two field trips, usually $8.00 each, so make another check out to the district for $16.00. If your child has special classes in science, there's that nice $25.00 lab fee every fall.
Total bill to take just one child and show up for the first day of school: $371.00. And I haven't even bought cupcakes to celebrate Friday yet.
Contact Deborah Taylor Hollis at dthollis@metronews.com.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
