I have a very strange love affair with school supplies. I always have. And I probably always will.
I totally related to this part of You’ve Got Mail even when I was like 12 years old.
And then the next scene (which I couldn’t find) where she smells the scotch tape and talks about school supplies? Yes. All of it, yes.
I remember my grandma taking us out for a school supply purchasing outing. On the way out the door, my mom reminded me to mind my P’s and Q’s and to not go too crazy. She had obviously been school supply shopping with me before. I obviously completely forgot how packages of pencil make me a little weak in the knees.
That night, I got the basics, what I needed, and then everything I could find that had my name on it. I don’t often find things with my name on it and I was expressly overjoyed.
When I got home, I knew immediately by the look on my mom’s face that I had gotten carried away.
It’s a face I’ve seen most of the school supply seasons every year since then. I don’t always get it from my mom. Sometimes it’s been the face in the mirror. Sometimes it’s been my husband’s face or my roommates’ faces.
Something about the bins of endless school supplies, all out at the same time. Something about the packs of pencils with brand spankin’ new erasers. Full of lead. Something about the multi-packs of Sharpies with the color peach inside, when can you ever find peach any other time of the entire year? Dear me, I appear to have the vapors.
Usually back to school shopping leaves me combing the aisles, looking for folders to match notebooks so that everything is easy to find for each class. Choosing pencils with just the right grip. Pens with the caps that have the right glide. Highlighters that promise not to bleed through paper. And all in Costco sized packages so I can perfectly horde save and share these precious supplies throughout the entire year.
School supply shopping has changed for us over the last few years. Those Costco packs of Sharpies are no longer the dream. There’s no way I could keep track of 48 glittering and gleaming colors and keep them out of toddler hands so as not to have permanent marker all over the walls, couches, and carpet.
This year I tried to think of everything we would need for an entire year of preschool homeschool and I bought it while it was on sale. See I don’t know why I wouldn’t get 4 packs of markers now and pay $1 each instead of paying $4 for one pack later. I’m just saying.
The most exciting purchase for me was new undies. Which just proves that I’m getting more lame-sauce by the minute. The kids are most excited about their fancy notebooks that they got to choose themselves and their pencil boxes.
My love affair with school supplies continues. I have no doubt that I will again some day be cracking open a new pack of more Sharpies than I could ever use. Getting a new back pack just because. Finding the perfect thing to organize my desk – even though I rarely use my desk.
Do you get weak in the knees over school supplies? Or do school supplies make you sweat in weird places and get all worked-up about the upcoming school year? I’d love to hear from you!
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I can relate to this post all too well! I had to stop myself from buying MORE schools supplies this season because my stash is already out. of. control. I also am going to begin homeschool preschool with my oldest this fall, and I seriously want to buy all the things. You know, in case she needs them 😉
Mandy, yeah, I mean, just in case….she could totally need a multi pack of Sharpies… -Leah
Oh ladies! I’m 70 years old and still buy the wide ruled tablets WHENEVER I see them for $.17 !!!! I love the bright ‘crayon color’ covers and can’t resist! No homeschooling here, no nothing, just lots of notes everywhere in the house. Important notes? ‘noooo’ but important at the moment. I can pass up pencils, in fact have a dislike for pencils…….
PJ – 17 cent notebooks are the bees knees! I need to be better about writing things down and thus need more notebooks around. -Leah
PJ, I prefer college ruled but I’m with you on the notebooks. Leah
I consider myself a crayon snob and will only use them until their factory sharpness wears off. And only one brand. Not that I color a lot. But what if there’s a crayon emergency?! I haven’t been in school in over four years and I still have a stockpile of paper and notebooks I’m trying to use up before I buy more. But you’re right it’s so hard to resist. My strategy is staying home. Or I might go buy some for the collection for kids in need. That could be a fun and useful splurge!