MOMania

By JJ

August 1, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this

NO!!! I will stay far, far away from any mall this weekend. It’s not worth the hassle to save $5.00……

Publix had a buy one get one free on school supplies about two weeks ago, so we stocked up then.

High school teachers each have a list, and they don’t give it to you until registration. I pretty much know what we will be buying, so no need to get out with the masses this weekend.

We will be Roaming the Dome tomorrow with the Falcons!!!

Ya’ll have fun in traffic and in lines at the stores..

By DB

August 1, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this

We used the tax free holiday last year to buy my husband a new laptop. Otherwise, it’s just not worth the hassle. The daughter wears uniforms, and the uniform place has deeper discounts during July, anyway, so that’s when we buy the uniforms.

Although I might ask my son if he needs any clothes for college … hmm …

By Joyce

August 1, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this

I bought the list a couple of weeks ago. I don’t like the crazy crowds either, but for some reason I can handle it more for clothes and shoes. I refuse to get hip-checked by another parent over a box of crayons!

Speaking of crayons, my mom got my son some of the Rose Art crayons a couple of years ago. They were so waxy that they barely left any color behind on the paper. I do follow the list pretty closely, but I’m having second thoughts about a $15 box of dry-erase markers. Are they really for the kids or the teachers? I know that they dry out quickly in the classroom, but shouldn’t they come out of the school’s pocket and not the parents’? I guess I need to ask about that at registration.

I can’t remember how much it came to, but I do remember that it was a lot cheaper than when we were buying supplies for my middle-school stepson several years ago. That trip added up to over $100! I can’t wait to do that again when my son is older… :(

By nurse&mother

August 1, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

I buy the brands that are the cheapest. I have noticed that typically at Walmart (during back to school sales, at least) the crayola brands are the cheapest. I buy most things on the list, but I refuse to buy soap. I realize that I am a nurse, but I think that is something that the school needs to provide. When I asked about this, a teacher said that some pink soap was provided, but they wanted better soap. I refuse to buy soap. Period. Soap is soap. I have bought hand sanitizer to be used when hand washing is not possible.

I haven’t had a chance to do much back to school shopping. My 2.5 yo is recovering from a tonsillectomy. We are struggling to get him to drink anything. He had to go back to the ER yesterday for IV fluids and steroids. He finally drank 10 oz yesterday, but I am struggling this morning. I think I will just leave him alone for a little bit then try again. He is supposed to get 28 oz per day. That seems like an impossible feat! Anyone else have any tips or tricks? I feel like I have tried everything. (Sorry for the side note)

By momtoAlex&Max

August 1, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this

I went to Target yesterday early afternoon and there were no mobs. I had bought the school supplies through the PTA in the spring, so I just wanted to stock up on supplies for home and homework. Plus a backpack and those pesky cleaning supplies the teachers want. It was great to save even if it was just 6% (I live in Cobb).

The prices seemed pretty good to me. (Box of 24 crayola crayons for .22—I think that’s pretty good). I think the key is to do it early Thu or Fri. By the weekend it is a mess.

By Becky

August 1, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this

No, I won’t be taking advantage of it..As JJ said, it isn’t worth the hassle..I stocked up about 2 weeks ago at WalMart..As for clothes, I hit Sears last week & got enough for the twins to have new clothes for the first couple of months..They are only six, so they don’t need anything designer..

By casil3229

August 1, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this

I live in North Georgia and my son started school today. I had to buy all of his school supplies last week.

By JJ

August 1, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this

Joyce Yes, they are for the teachers. I have found that teachers have their own requests for their supplies, Kleenex, paper towels, copy paper, hand soap etc.

They should not have to come out of pocket for these items. They should be provided, but due to the lack of funding, the parents need to help out if possible.

By faye

August 1, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this

I’ll be going out today and early tomorrow. My son is in high school and has his own job, so he’s planning on hitting the stores by himself to buy some clothes. Since he’s in high school, I just buy basic notebooks, pens, pencils, etc. I give my daughter money to use in the college bookstore.

I remember the days of the crazy lists - though I never had a listed that requested specific brands. I think my kids were more worried about getting the right things than I ever was - I still remember need three specific colored folders for my daughter (I think black, red, and green) we couldn’t find green, and I bought blue instead - my daughter was a nervous wreck, but the issue never came up in school.

Joyce - I don’t think you should be buying dry erase for the teachers, but lots of teacher use small boards for the kids - kind of like old-fashioned slate boards - especially for math. I wouldn’t have a problem with dry erase for that for my own child, but the school should be supplying dry erase for the board.

I find that a lot of the stores have good sales, so the savings go beyond just the taxes.

By JJ

August 1, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this

I’ll never forget my daughter’s first day of Kindergarten. All the kids at the bus stop with huge back packs jammed with supplies. Kids with huge sacks of supplies. Trying to figure out how they were going to get on the bus with all that mess….

As my child progressed through elementary school, I realized they don’t need ALL those supplies the very first day. So we staggered the supplies through the week.

And my high schooler too has a job and will be purchasing most of her own clothes, along with some supplies.

Wait till your child gets into high school math and you HAVE To purchase a special calculator, that costs $130. I was pretty upset over that one, but a co-worker informed me that he bought one for his kid, and he still uses it in college. $130 for a calculator is a little over the edge for me.

By Stan

August 1, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this

My brother used to work at Home Depot. He told me that before school each year, teachers would come in and ask him to cut down a 4x8 sheet or dry erase board to 1’ squares for their kids. So the markers could be for the kids.

By Numbers Guy

August 1, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this

Mine goes to private school, and they hit you with an “activity fee”. I sneered at that until I realized that it actually covers 95% of in-class supplies. That obviously changed my attitude.

My wife, however, is a pre-school teacher at a church program. I’m quite sure we’ll be stocking up her classroom this weekend. Thing about that which irritates me is that since she’s not teaching K-12, the IRS disallows the teacher income tax deduction on those purchases.

By faye

August 1, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this

Nurse&Mother - does it have to be water? Have you tried popsicles? Even making your own out of watered down juice has got to be better than his getting dehydrated.

By Mo's mom

August 1, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

Luckily, I still have a lot of supplies left over from my son’s previous school year so the only thing I have to purchase for him is a dictionary. Welcome to furst grade, Mo!

However, if you parents out there don’t want the hassle of fighting crowds for picked over school supplies, there is a wonderfully fantastic lady in Conyers who has a school supply shopping service where she sells “bundles” of your kids’ supply lists for one set price. She’ll even deliver it to your child’s school if you want!

Classroom Essentials [www.classroomessentials.net]

By Love this site!

August 1, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

Save yourself the drama & the hassle & shop online from the comfort of your home…

Classroom Essentials

[www.classroomessentials.net]

By JJ

August 1, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this

nurse I just had surgery on my throat, and had a very sore throat for about three days. I feel for your little one. It’s much harder on them that us adults.

I had jello, popsicles, YUM, practically went through an entire box in two days, (great idea Faye), cream of wheat cereal (Actually Farina), tomato soup, and ice cream. Also, try some mushed up fruit, nectarines are fabulous this year, and very mushy……maybe the baby could suck on them for the juice……

Also, have you thought about those sprays for sore throats to help with the pain? Poor little pumpkin…

By She is great!

August 1, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

I totally agree with Mo’s mom (even though she spelled first with a ‘u’) & the other poster. The lasy who owns Classroom Essentials is a God-send! She packages everything so neatly and orders are shipped promptly. She did offer to deliver it to my child’s school on orientation day but since I won’t be able to make it, I opted for shipping. Plus, I really didn’t feel like leaving the house!

I HIGHLY recommend that you parents take advantage of this service, especially this weekend.

By SAY NO TO THE CROWDS!!

August 1, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this

(www.classroomessentials.net)

(www.classroomessentials.net)

(www.classroomessentials.net)

(www.classroomessentials.net)

By nurse&mother

August 1, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this

I appreciate the tips JJ and Faye, but unfortunately I have tried everything (from apple juice,to chocolate milk-his fav, to pudding to water to grape gatorade to popsicles). He is extrememly stubborn. I am having trouble getting him to take meds. We just tried to get him to take some pain meds and he screamed for 20 minutes. The surgeon wants to admit him, but my husband says that he thinks we can get him to take fluids. We’ll see. Please keep us in your prayers.

By Numbers Guy

August 1, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this

Spam quotient seems a tad high today….

By dawn

August 1, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this

I went to Target, Kohl’s, and Stride-Rite stores yesterday and they were not crowded at all. I was prepared for large crowds, but I breezed through those three stores and bought all the school supplies and clothes for my Kindergartner and his baby brother who will start PMO this fall and got everything in about 2 1/2 hours. That included sizing the kids for shoes, trying a few things on, and driving.

We were able to get a supply list from my son’s school’s web site. There were only two items that specified brands: Fiskars scissors and Elmer’s glue.

I bought the Fiskars, but opted for Target brand glue since I had to buy 4 bottles and there was a significant price difference.

Personally, I don’t mind buying Kleenex, soap, etc. What I mind are the constant requests throughout the year for Clorox wipes, glue, art supplies, etc. Personally, I’d rather that each parent give the teacher an extra $5 at the beginning of the year and not be nickled and dimed throughout the year.

By JJ

August 1, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

Nurse First of all, your screen name tells me you should know what to do in your situation.

Secondly, I would do what the surgeon says, and get that boy in the hospital IMMEDIATELY, before he gets too dehydrated, then you have bigger issues. They will give him an IV with fluids.

I know babies are stubborn, but remember, you are the parent, and you are the one in control.

I don’t think a 2 year old can understand that he needs to take his medicine, even though it hurts like crazy, but he won’t get better without the medicine…..

You are in my thoughts, but I would get that baby to the hospital and get him hydrated ASAP.

By JJ

August 1, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this

Dawn Our school requests a voluntary donation to the Arts department. I normally give them about $10/year, along with a few other departments.

Who all has to pay for lockers? We have to pay $3/yr. I just read that a school in Florida upped theirs to $5.00 to offset costs……

By Stacey

August 1, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this

I bought all of my son’s school supplies already by taking advantange of the sales at the office supply stores and Walgreens. I printed the list from the school’s website & I was able to get a lot of his stuff for between a penny and a quarter per item. His list also asked for dry erase markers and they were $1.99 for a pack of four at Walgreens last week (as opposed to $4.99 at the office supply stores). Last year his teacher used the jumbo dry erase markers for her board and each student had the little hand held boards and the thin markers. Since I wasn’t sure which he needed, I bought both sizes for less than the regular price of one. I stick pretty close to the list (his school wasn’t brand specific) except as others said, I could get 10 regular size glue sticks for the price of the 1 jumbo that was requested (and the jumbo is only equal to about 4-5 regular). When he was in Kindergarten I bought the Crayola crayons and markers (the colors really are brighter) but then I found out that all the the supplies went into a “sharing pool” and he may or may not get to use the crayolas. This year I opted for the 1 cent box of Office Max brand crayons and my kid honestly couldn’t care less.

I bought most of his clothes from the Wal-Mart and Old Navy clearance racks at the beginning of summer. The Goody’s near my job is one of the stores that closed so I got him a few things from there. As others have stated, the hassle of the crowds this weekend will far exceed the 7% I will save in sales tax.

Nurse&Mother…I used a student bathroom at my son’s school last year and discovered that there was no soap nor paper towels in the bathroom! When I mentioned it to one of the teachers, she said the kids make such a mess with the soap and they stop the sinks and toliets with the tissue so the stopped putting it in the bathrooms. She said that when the class takes a scheduled bathroom break, the teacher takes a bottle of hand soap and a roll of paper towels with her. Once the kids finish using the bathroom, they come to the doorway and the teacher gives them a squirt of soap and once they wash, a paper towel to dry (then she watches them throw it in the trash). It is so routine that the kids seem not to notice anything strange about it. They also have sinks in the classrooms (it’s a new school building) that they use to wash up after sneezing, arts and crafts or at snacktime so they also need soap and paper towels for that.

By Former Navy RD

August 1, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this

Nurse & Mother:

2 things to try: 1. Homemade lemonade or limeade popsicles or making a slushee using finely crushed ice plus homemade lemonade or limeade.

If all else fails and he continues to refuse liquids or soft foods, one trick that I’ve used as a last resort is to tell the kid that if they do not eat or drink, they will be going back to the hospital, where someone will shove a hose down their nose to get them to eat and it will hurt. It’s worked before with my kids and pediatric patients who refused to take in food or drink, but like I said, it’s a last resort.

By JJ

August 1, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this

Medicine can be in liquid form, and it now comes in all kinds of flavors….

Former Navy Great suggestion, but you don’t want to scare the child. Then he will freak out anytime he goes near a hospital, and is made to think that nurses and doctors are the bad guys. That happened to me, and my mom is a nurse. Scared the living crap out of me, and as I entered adulthood, I wouldn’t go to doctors out of fear. (I’m past that now).

By Ummm...

August 1, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this

I thought this post was about school shopping & not home remedies for a stubborn 2 year old?

Hold the little brat’s nose closed & make him swallow the meds.

Done.

By nurse&mother

August 1, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this

@Ummmm Why are you even visiting this blog if you are going to be ugly? First of all if you bothered to read all the posts, you will see that I answered the question of the day. I was having some issues that are health related, thank you very much. If one cannot ask some advice from other posters on a health related issue than I suppose this is not a true health blog.

BTW holding a toddler’s nose and “making” him take his meds is easier said than done. If it were that easy, it would have already been done. My husband and I both have manhandled him. He is certainly fiesty and strong willed. I would invite you or anyone else who has such an answer to see if you can “make” a child swallow medicine once you have held him down and forced a syringe or dropper into his mouth. The problem is that he holds onto it (while screaming at the to of his lungs) and eventually spits it out. I have tried massaging his neck under his chin to help facilitate him to swallow. Not working!!

@ JJ thanks so much for your concern. As soon as I had my bag packed and called my husband to come home (approx. 40 minutes later) I went into the living room and saw that he drank about 6oz of chocolate milk. I think some of the pain meds went down after all. He was also playful at that point. The doctor said that we could do the wait and see approach since he was a little improved.

Thanks also for all the advice. I have tried popsicles (store bought) but maybe a homemade might be better. THanks again.

Sorry to take the blog to another tangent :-)

By nurse&mother

August 1, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this

One other thing to note is that it is very difficult to reason with a 2yo. If he were 7, I could tell him that if he didn’t drink, he would have to have an IV (but doesn’t work well with a 2yo)

@Stacey. We also heard that the soap and paper towels were removed because the kids were making a huge mess with it. My problem is that I suspect when the children are returning to class, they aren’t going to remember to wash their hands. Or just as bad, the teachers think hand sanitizer is an ok substitute for soap and water after using the bathroom and wiping their butts. It’s not. Diseases that are spread through fecal-oral routes need soap and water and to be mechanically washed away. The problem I have is that the school does provide them with soap, but the teachers are just picky about it. Let the custodians fill up soap dispencers in the classroom.

By JJ

August 1, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this

Hey, it’s friday, no worries about going off topic. It didn’t seem to bother anyone.

And we are all here to help each other out. You know I go off topic alot.

Glad to hear the little one drank some choc. milk.

Air smooches all, have a wonderful weekend.

By newbie

August 1, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this

I went with my 11th grader to Office Depot today to get school supplies, only to find that graphing calculators are NOT EXEMPT!! Calculators are on the exempt list, but they are lumped in with paper, pens, crayons, etc. and are subject to the $20.00 maximum. ‘Scuse me, but you can’t get a graphing calculator for less than $80.00, and high school math requires them.

This just fried my baloney!!

By newbie

August 1, 2008 7:32 PM | Link to this

I went with my 11th grader to Office Depot today to get school supplies, only to find that graphing calculators are NOT EXEMPT!! Calculators are on the exempt list, but they are lumped in with paper, pens, crayons, etc. and are subject to the $20.00 maximum. ‘Scuse me, but you can’t get a graphing calculator for less than $80.00, and high school math requires them.

This just fried my baloney!!

By FCM

August 4, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this

*I wonder if the teachers consider it an exercise in following directions. * WTH???????????????? Your concerned if the teacher is ‘testing’ you? Sheesh be a grown-up. Yep, I know I am being harsh, but there is no nice way to say this. The TEACHER does not do my household budget. The TEACHER does not make the rules in my house. The TEACHER may make suggestions/requests, but in the end they will get whatever the heck I send in. As my kids say “You get what you get and you don’t pitch a fit.” Which is why handsoap, sanitizer, Clorox wipes, baggies, plates, bandaids, and towels are not provided by my house. I do provide Kleenex, sharpies, highlightes and dry erase. My children have told me that YES they do use these office/school items in class. Cleaning supplies should be budgeted by the school…If they cannot run their budgets FIRE THEM!

By jg

August 5, 2008 6:37 AM | Link to this

I’m a middle school teacher, and I make it very clear on my supply list that items to maintain a healthy environment ( wipes, tissue, sanitizer) are purely optional, but to the benefit of all. I used to buy these things myself, but with 100+ students rotating in and out of my classroom every day, it about broke my bank to keep even the basics (like tissue) stocked. My school gives me $100 to spend for the entire school year, and if I want to buy new trade books, a magazine subscription for reluctant readers, and perhaps office supplies, there isn’t much room in my budget left for tissue and disinfecting wipes. Perhaps if folks didn’t send their kids to school sick , though, we wouldn’t be in such need of these things. Seriously, is one package of Clorox wipes gonna break you?

By FCM

August 5, 2008 6:46 AM | Link to this

jg—I am ntot saying that TEACHERS cannot budget….It’s your boss’ and the elected school officials. Fire the administrators if they cannot manage their funds to get basic cleaning supplies into the schools…soap, paper towels, etc. As to these supplies breaking me: $40 more to the bill if I buy for BOTH children….that’s a tank of gas or a month of school lunch….Add in the dang fees that each family gives PTA (who then gives them to the teachers who ask for it—and I have been told many don’t ask) plus the fund raisers. If the wipes are so important than lets do with one less Promethean Board, bet you can get alot of wipes for that.

By STOP FIGHTING

August 5, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this

…and just go buy your bundles at www.classroomessentials.net

Saves you a whole bunch of time from driving around trying to find stuff!

By JSP

August 5, 2008 6:01 PM | Link to this

I buy the needed items for my children. I do not buy everything on the lists any longer. I could care less what “brands” the teachers request. Hello…that’s my call. And I do not send everything to school on day one. Extra pencils, paper, boxes of crayons, glue sticks, etc stay in the cupboard at home and the children replenish their supplies as needed throughout the school year.

I refuse to send in bags of candy as I disagree with candy being used as a reward each and every day for the most ridiculous things. Please don’t give my child a piece of candy because he cleaned his scraps of paper off the floor and put them in the trash can. He SHOULD be doing that because its the right thing to do.

I used to send in all the extra’s, the tissues, the bandaids, the clorox wipes, etc.

No more, its gotten ridiculous.

Cleaning products, tissues and band aids are/should be funded by tax payer monies. I keep waiting to see toilet paper on the list.

By jg

August 5, 2008 7:50 PM | Link to this

My husband works in corporate America, and I am sickened by the amount of money spent by vendors and sales people to get companies to buy their products. Recently a company paid $9000 at auction for face time with my husband in the hopes of selling him their product. $9000!!! They foot the bill at conventions, take him out to the finest restaurants, and get him tickets to hot events…..all while I scrounge to buy paper clips and file folders.

When our society starts to REALLY value education, the money will be available to provide the best for children (and the future of our democratic society). When our society REALLY values education, we’ll have PhD’s hawking deodorant and enjoying hero status instead of illiterate NFL players. Until then, we have people griping about hand sanitizer, crayons, and test scores….. and teachers who continue to teach because they recognize that education is perhaps the most valuable wealth one can ever hope to accumulate.

I’m done reading these blogs. It is so depressing. I put my heart, soul, and a lot of my paycheck into public education, and all I get is criticism from people who have never walked in my shoes. I’m a parent, and I pay PTA fees to my own school and my children’s schools. I buy the school supplies on the teachers’ wish lists, rent the lockers, buy gas, and prepay school lunch, too. Some of you folks need to look at the big picture.
Democracy only works with an educated populace.

Bye.

By JSP

August 6, 2008 7:53 AM | Link to this

JG, you buy gas? Are we supposed to be impressed? I seriously don’t understand why that is commendable. Every person I know buy’s gas. I also pay the PTA fees, rent lockers, contribute to the science lab fees, etc. So, what. These items are also not commendable. They are part of being a parent and raising kids.

I personally am no longer interested in purchasing things for “teachers” that aren’t benefiting my children. Buy your own “brightly colored” Post It notes if you want them. That’s cool. But they aren’t something I as a parent should be expected to provide.

And why so many baggies and diaper wipes? I don’t use diaper wipes at home to clean the table. What’s wrong with plain old soap and water?

By jg

August 6, 2008 6:17 PM | Link to this

JSP, you completely missed my point, and were rude about it unnecessarily. I was responding to a previous post about all of the expenses related to just living nowadays, and I was pointing out that teachers are parents, too, and face the same back to school costs and challenges as everyone else. I was in no way asking for commendation in any form.

I don’t teach elementary school anymore, but the baggies are for for the many small manipulatives that are used for teaching, among other things, math concepts. They are also handy when a kid pulls out a tooth and wants to take it home safely, creates a masterpiece of some sort and wants to get it home in his backpack in one piece, and for many, many other things too numerous to list here.

I use water-soluble markers for many things from marking on laminated maps to writing on overhead transparencies. Plain water to erase these markers just dilutes the ink and makes a huge mess….most people, not just kids, have a hard time with the clean up with just water. It stains the skin and clothes. Plain water on overhead transparencies just smears the ink, and never really comes off. Soap is equally ineffectual because it leaves a soap film on the transparency and projector that is difficult to remove, especially when it dries….and it dries quickly with the hot light of the overhead projector. Pre-moistened wipes work perfectly. Just enough moisture, no detergent.

Chalk boards create a great deal of dust, which I find unhealthy. Custodians don’t clean the boards anymore. Pre-moistened wipes clean the chalk dust away quickly and efficiently. Plain soap and water forms the chalk dust into a paste and wipes it around the board.

Dry erase markers leave a “shadow” on whiteboards that doesn’t erase completely with the erasers provided with the markers. Dry erase board cleaners are toxic, and I won’t use them, for the health and safety of myself and my children. Premoistened wipes clean the shadows off quickly and completely, and are safe for the children to use.

I do not have a sink in my classroom. I would have to leave the room or have the students leave the room for the good old soap and water any time we used glue, water-based markers, or any other messy materials for labs and explorations.

By the way, apostrophes are used to show possession for nouns or contraction for verbs. Not sure what you meant by “buy’s”.

Has anyone ever told you that you might be a bit uninformed, rude, and perhaps a little selfish? Am I really the first?