It’s our second school year back in public school. I can honestly say I still miss homeschooling but right now this works for our family. The mornings are still rough. When you see our very early morning bus stop stories, you’ll know why. Most of the time I include some quotes for back to school to get us all motivated for the day.

We moved partway through the school year last year, but let them finish out the year at their old school. This year it’s a new campus, new teachers and new friends. I know they’re in a good place but my mama heart still worries that they are ok. 

Each morning as they prepare to leave I remind them to dream big and make it happen. Set little goals for the day and work to knock them out of the park. I’ve also found myself reading some quotes for back to school that I know will help us all year. Here are some of my favorites. 

8 Quotes for Back to School And A Successful Year 

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose” – Dr. Seuss

Saying this one with my kids in the morning is a fun way to get them excited about their day. Sometimes I continue the thought by asking them where they choose to go today in school. Answers like “to see the humpback whales” shows just how their imagination works. And it also shows that they remember something from science. Win! 

“Let Us Remember: One book, one pen, one child and one teacher can change the world” -Ma’lala Yousafzai

This one is more for me, my parent and teacher friends. I’ve read a short version of Ma’lala’s story to my kids but her story also reminds me that we all play a part in changing our world. Every day is a day to teach my children about empathy, love and understanding of other people. 

“Everything is a learning process; any time you fall over, it just teaching you to stand up the next time’ – Joel Edgerton 

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time” – Thomas Edison 

These two quotes say it all. I want my kids to know that every time they try, they get closer to succeeding. I want them to know that even if they stumble along the way, dusting themselves off and trying again is all a part of the learning process. And I want them to know that having questions and being unsure is ok. Their dad and I, along with their teachers are here to help them when they need. 

“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school” – Einstein 

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” – Nelson Mandela 

These two quotes almost contradict one another but that is why I love them. Nelson Mandela continued to educate himself even while in prison during apartheid. We all know the impact he had on South Africa and the world. And while education starts at home and continues in school, lots of education happens by experience in the world. Even at their young ages, life experiences have already taught them some valuable lessons. 

The difference between try and triumph is a little umph” – Marvin Phillips

This one is a fun one for my kids. They like saying “umph”. I like saying it too. We add a little volume or animation as we say it. “Did you add a little umph to that try?” 

Nothing is impossible, the word itself says “I’m Possible” – Katherine Hepburn

This one is a chant worth saying daily and not just for school. But also a nice pep chant before sports practice or an event. Or even a pep chant when they are trying something for the first time. 

Me: “ Nothing is impossible” 

Kids: “I’m Possible” 

What’s your favorite quote? Try chanting some of them with your kiddos before they head off to start their school day. Have a great school year!

I’m not gonna do it. I’m not going to stop and think about how I started this blog what feels like yesterday, before my daughter was even a dream. I’m not going to dwell on the fact that she’s growing up so freaking fast and though I’m searching, frantically for a pause button, she’s still maturing before my eyes.

Instead, I’m focusing on the many things I’m looking forward to the moment she steps on the bus, and her brother begins his preschool class. That’s twice a week. Twice a week I’ll have five whole hours to myself. During the day. OMG I CAN’T WAIT.

Once my kids start school it’s on. Here are 15 things I’m excited to do:

1. Work. Lame, I know. But I’m so excited to have uninterrupted time to work on my blog, new projects, and other tasks I’ve had to put off.

2. Sleep: I’m not a morning person, so after the hassle of getting the kids off to school might just sleep until they get home. In fact, I may just spend the first two months of the school year catching up on sleep.

3. Lunch dates: I can catch up with the ladies at some place without a playground and actually finish a conversation.

4. Finish reading Harry Potter (and the other books on my shelves): I take it back, I’ll spend the first couple months of back-to-school doing nothing but plowing through the rest of this series. Though reading a long time makes me tired, so this could also help with #2.

5. Take advantage of my husband: If we’re not careful we may be starting over on this baby charade. The house will be empty. Just sayin’.

6. Go shopping alone: I had the opportunity to get a few groceries without the kids the other day. It was so amazing. I can’t wait to experience that again, and maybe even try it at a clothing store..

7. Go to the bathroom alone: Look ya’ll, I’m not asking for much, just to do a few things by myself. And since becoming a mom, I don’t believe I’ve ever done this. I can’t wait to see what it’s like.

8. Blast explicit music and bad TV: It’s not that I have bad taste. It’s just that anything other than PBS and Kid’s Bop has been off limits during the day. Not anymore!

9. Get pampered: Ok maybe now I’m asking for a lot. But mani/pedis and the occasional massage? I’ve earned it.

10. Play with my kids toys: Finally I can be the architect the amazing train track I’ve been dreaming of without my kids bossing me around.

11. Organize all of my photos: Make new photo books and probably cry looking at how much my kids have grown.

12. Go on road trips: How far can I get and back in 5 hours?

13. Have a whine-free lunch (while sipping on my fake wine): I’ll still have to make it, but I won’t have to hear them whining about wanting something else.

14. Not change diapers: Or deal with anyone else’s poop or pee but my own, in the bathroom alone.

15. Spend quality time with my kids: What? But they’re at school! Yea, but you know the phrase “Absence makes the heart grow fonder”? That’s what’s up.

Now that I’ve got my schedule planned til next summer, I can’t wait to get started.

What are you looking forward to once your kids start school?

Five little dresses are hanging from the bedpost in my daughter’s room. I didn’t put them there. That’s part of the charm. My 5-year-old daughter hung them there, lined them up one by one in preparation for her first week of school–which, mind you, is still a month away.

Her little display is quite the opposite of how I’m feeling about the subject of her as she starts Kindergarten. I’m not organized, unprepared and frankly really scared about the fact that my little girl is starting elementary school.

For months I toyed with the idea of homeschooling. I had all but officially decided to do it. I spoke to several homeschool families who make it work well for them, and felt that Lil’ J, being a young kindergartner could do really well at home too. But as the summer drug on, and my plans to be the educational mom I dreamt I’d be failed miserably, I decided to go along with my husband, who encouraged me to register her for public school.

We live in an area where the schools are great, so I’m not worried about that as much as the fact that my little girl who I’ve had at home with me for a couple years now will be off into the world, starting elementary school… FULL-TIME school. I mean this is it folks. Full-day kindergarten today and before I know it she’ll be graduating from high school.

I can’t lie, I’m scared. So scared. I worry I haven’t prepared her enough. Mentally or emotionally. What if she gets picked on? What if she makes another child feel bad? What if I let her watch too many surprise egg videos on YouTube and she’s totally behind the ball?

What if she doesn’t like school? I loved it from day one. All my parents had to do to keep me in line was threaten a day off from school. Back to School shopping, the new clothes and backpacks was one of my favorite holidays—I’m talking up there with Christmas.

But there are some thing I’m excited for. New traditions. First day of school photos. Pictures of her getting on the school bus for the first time, hearing about new friendships. All of the memories I loved every time a new school year ramped up again.

Now I’m on another side of things, buying items for my daughter’s first year of elementary school, and hoping she falls in love with learning like I have.

Soon summer breaks will actually mean something and back to school will signify more than just the end of a hot summer.

Back to School now means I’m picking up shopping lists, adjusting our schedules, and preparing for a new type of calendar year ahead. As scared as I am, the retail therapy is real.

Instead of new yoga pants and camera equipment (though those sound awesome right now too), I’m scoping out new lunch boxes, clothes and shoes with my daughter.

I’ve hardly made a dent in the frightening shopping list they schools hand out. The days of fun personal items are long gone here. So we skipped hunting for plain number 2 pencils and blue spiral notebooks we’ve been looking at new dresses and deciding what kind of backpack she wants.

Being so busy with work and traveling these last couple weeks, I ordered her four new dresses on sale from Sears.com/backtoshchool. I let her pick out the ones she wanted, selected “store pickup,” and sent my husband on a mission to go get it. It was a nice compromise. He didn’t have to sit through hours of browsing and debate at the store, and we were able to get them right away. They woulda brought it out to the car for him but he didn’t believe me.

“Man, all they did was scan my phone and hand me my stuff,” my husband said, amazed that it was really as simple as I told him it would be. I think he worried he’d have to listen to our daughter deciding on “options” for over an hour.

She proudly brought her dresses home, gave me a fashion show and proceeded to hang them up on her bed, where she says they’ll stay until her first week of school.

I’m so proud of my little girl and how far she’s come. I pray as she begins this new chapter that she’ll be brave and stand up for herself.

That she’ll stand up for others who aren’t able to stand up for themselves.

I pray that she’ll continue to see the good in everyone, and that any negativity around her won’t darken her spirit.

That she’ll be confident and love herself.

That she’ll learn to love learning, and continue to devour new information.

I pray that she’ll remember how much I love her, and know that I just want her to be happy.

In just a few more weeks we’ll pull down her dresses and start a new phase. We don’t know what’s ahead. But I have a feeling it’s going to be great.

What are your hopes for your children this school year?

Leave a comment letting me know, and let me know what you’d love from Sears in your back-to-school shopping haul. One random commenter will win a $50 gift card to Sears. Giveaway ends July 31st. 

This story is sponsored by Sears. You can your back to school shopping less stressful by using their Shop Your Way services like Reserve-It (where you can reserve your items online to try on in the store), and Vehicle Pickup. Find out more at Sears.com/backtoschool. All opinions expressed in my story are my own.