Back-to-school season always feels like a whirlwind. As a mom and former teacher, I thrive on routines but I also know I am the queen of convenience. If there is a product that makes life even a little bit easier, you can bet it is coming home with me. This year I pulled together my absolute favorite finds that are not only helping me but are making Emma and Kate’s lives smoother too.
Yogurt Cups
I buy a big tub of yogurt, portion it into little clear cups with lids, and line them up in the fridge. The girls can grab them in the morning, or I can pop them into lunchboxes without any extra mess. I cannot tell you how many times this tiny hack has saved us from the dreaded “I’m starving” before school whine.
Backpack
This year we invested in Athleta backpacks and I could not be happier. They are the perfect size. The girls do not look overloaded and they are not too small either. There are two side pockets for water bottles and inner pockets where Emma and Kate stash all of their random trinkets.
Lunchboxes
The Pack It lunchboxes live in our freezer. The ice packs are built in, so all I do is pull them out in the morning, pack lunch, and send the girls on their way. No more hunting down extra ice packs. The best part is their food is always cold at lunchtime. Kate once told me her peanut butter and jelly was still frozen when she opened it, which might be a bit too effective, but I will take frozen sandwiches over warm ones any day.
Snack Containers
The double-sided snack containers with clear lids are my secret weapon for after-school chaos. I fill one side with meat and the other with cheese and hand them to the girls when we are rushing to tennis or just trying to keep them from gnawing on the furniture before dinner.
Pencils
I buy these pencils in bulk because the erasers do not smear. This, I have learned, is a hill my children are willing to die on. Apparently, nothing is worse than a smeared eraser mark. So now, we have these pencils everywhere in our house.
Bento Boxes
At night, I pack their bento lunch containers before I even crawl into bed. It is like a little gift to myself the next morning. All I have to do is slip them into the frozen lunchboxes and we are ready to go.
Dry Erase Board
I finally admitted to myself that running my household works best when I run it like my old classroom. I set up a double-sided dry erase board where we write down the morning checklist and the after-school checklist. Every day, the girls know exactly what is expected of them, and it has cut the chaos down by half.
Nutella
For Kate’s birthday, we gave her a box of mini Nutella packets. She could live off Nutella if I let her. These little packets are the perfect treat to throw into a lunchbox or to hand her with some strawberries after school. Watching her dip strawberries into Nutella with pure joy makes me laugh because it is so her.
Puzzles
In the evenings, I try to keep us away from screens, which is not always easy. Lately, I have been leaving out puzzles for us to work on as a family. The ice cream cone puzzle has been a favorite. Emma and Kate wander by, fit a few pieces in, and we end up spending time together without even planning it.
Routines and Convenience
I know I sound like a crazy lady with routines and checklists, but in my defense, structure saves us. At the same time, I am all about convenience. If there is something that takes one extra step off my plate, I am in. These little things, the backpacks, the bento boxes, the snack cups, add up to big wins for us.