I finished school shopping yesterday. Having four kids- two teenagers and two preschoolers- i think of this event as about the equivalent as a triathlon. In fact I am a little disappointed that there was no medal, trophy, or even applause in honor of my accomplishment. I do realize that this tradition is likely to come to a screeching halt before long.
My oldest son is starting college this year. He will still be living at home but doesn't need mom to buy his supplies or clothes this year. He will most likely not get out of his pajamas for the next year. At least that is his plan for the moment.
My only daughter is a Junior. She still loves the annual ritual of maxxing out Mom's credit card on new clothes that she might wear and supplies to fill her locker. I am sure that she has clothes from last year that still have the tags on them. This year she opted for fewer clothes but nicer (read: expensive) undergarments. I am a firm believer that a nice foundation can help boost confidence. And a teenager needs every boost he or she can get. (I don't believe that all boosts in confidence have a price tag. I do believe that the best boost is encouragement in the form of time.)
The two little boys will both be in preschool this year. The youngest will be starting his first year. They really don't care about clothes or supplies. However, they really enjoy screaming and running through stores. At least at this age they want to join me for the shopping experience. I probably only have another couple of years before they stop caring about my back to school ritual.
Maybe I should begin planning now for what I will do with my extra time when school shopping is done.