Fundraiser, anyone?

Another new element to grade-school fundraising: now, in addition to raising money for our own PTA and school needs, we are raising money for everyone else's needs as well. The entire district sells those major discount cards. How many do they think we'll need if everyone in the entire district is selling them? I guess if they can sucker us each into buying one or two, it's a good thing. Now, the PE department is in the act with a jump roping campaign. Now, I'm as much in support of being community-minded as the next mom, but how many fundraisers do we really need a kindergartener to participate in? And can he even jump rope?

I also love that they tell kids NOT to go door-to-door. Sure, this is an advancement in safety for kids, but it's also underlining the obvious method for fundraising: Ask your parents and every family member to give money to this cause, along with all of the other causes, so that you can stay safe, and we can make money. Even better, sucker your mom or dad into taking your fundraising form to work! No one there has fundraisers to contribute to at their own kids' schools.

Our family budget is now prepared for the never-ending rounds of fundraising. We budget at least $20 per month just to off-set whatever fundraiser comes home. I'm sure there is something we haven't sold yet. I'm just not sure what it is.

Back to School!

I felt like a prisoner who had been freed from captivity when both my little birds were safely in their schools yesterday. Anyone else? I guess that answers my previous post about parents waiting for school to start again, doesn't it?

For some reason, school seems much more managable than I remembered it. We're still getting little reminders about this special event or that parent activity or the ever-changing rotation of "specials", but it all seems less daunting than before. Maybe it's because I'm a semester-seasoned mom now.

Yesterday, my kindergartener told me that he has a "School brain" and a "life brain." When he's in life, he doesn't remember anything at all from school. This was his way of explaining why he never plans to give me the juicy details on his day in the classroom. I'd better be happy to take what I can get. Do any of you other kindergarten parents get this same kind of communication string? Or are your kids happily sharing the details of their school day?

Our first break: The one that won't end

We just finished our first "winter" break. Well, officially. In reality, it keeps going on, and on, and on.

Our break was a good one. It was a struggle to get back into routine-- bedtime, awake time-- for that one day back to school we had before we were out for inclement weather. I guess we'll fight the good fight again next week.

My kindergartener was THRILLED to go back to school on Tuesday. His teacher sent him a postcard over break that he was really excited to receive, and he was anxious to see his friends. They learned about "invisible buckets" and being a bucket filler or a bucket dipper. Seemed like a great lesson for kindergarteners. I thought to myself, "Wow, if they'd only figure that out now, it would save them a lot of grief in Junior High." I won't hold my breath.

So, here we are. Back at home after one day of school. My guess is we'll be out the rest of the week. NOW what are we supposed to do? We've played with all the Christmas toys, watched the movies, been to the movies, made dozens of christmas cookies. It was way easier to come up with things before the holidays. Now I'm out of ideas. If we can make it to Friday alive, I'll consider the week a success.