It's almost that time again. School begins. We Mothers must fit school clothes shopping trips into our already hectic schedule. It doesn't seem like much but the soccer factor needs to be considered, as well as the domino effect. The domino effect is when you buy that extra shirt for Bobby and Tracy, Bill and Suzie are all watching - and counting.

Then there's the school gear. Don't even think about making your kids use last year's lunch box or backpack. Never mind the fact that you bought it in May to replace the one that was stolen from the lunch room. And shoes. Shoes have become a major issue. Kids are very particular about their shoes. They have to be not only the right brand but the right color and type as well.

No matter how prepared you think you are with rulers, scissors, glue stick, binders, dividers, etc., there will be additional demands coming in that first week of school. These come from the teachers and are very particular as well. Gets a bit much when they have six classes and six teachers all wanting your son to have a different system for organizing his work. You might as well schedule that "back to" back to school shopping into the first week of school now. So much for "free" public school, eh?

It is an investment though. As is the time we spend with Billy helping him with his fractions or time's tables. What's really fun, though is trying to help with geometry or algebra when you don't remember how to do it. On the other hand, if you remember how - forget it. It isn't done that way any more.

Copyright July 31, 2000 Ann Wilkes