Even though the calendar still says it is summer, in the Jones’ household, we are prepping for the back to school season. Isn’t it amazing how quickly we can forget the morning routine…looking at you littlest Jones. The kitchen sees a lot of activity in the morning from coffee preparation to grabbing a lunch box and eating breakfast, so having this room along with the others in your Locust Grove home prepped for the back to school season can go a long way in easing the early morning chaos.
Virginia’s sales tax free weekend is August 2nd through August 4th, 2024.
Store lunch packing materials all in one place
We love to pack lunches the night before because it saves time in the morning. But, whenever you pack lunches, keeping everything in one place is not only convenient, but a time saver as well. Put the water bottles, plastic containers, bags, utensils, and some napkins all in the same drawer or cupboard; this also helps when you are teaching your child how to pack lunches too.
Plan breakfast ahead of time
While cereal or toast is always a quick breakfast, sometimes you want to have something a little heartier in the morning, but you don’t have time to break out all the pots and pans. You can plan ahead and do some meal prepping to help during the back to school season. Things like homemade waffles and pancakes freeze nicely and can be warmed up in a toaster. Make ahead egg and sausage sandwiches provide a hearty meal. Here are some easy freezer breakfast suggestions to stock the freezer in your Locust Grove home.
Create a homework space
Although kids seem to come home with a lot less homework than I did, having a dedicated spot for completing assignments is helpful. It can be the kitchen table, a desk in the bedroom, the living room’s coffee table, or wherever your child feels comfortable. Here are some more tips about creating a homework space in your home. While the back to school sales are on, it also can be a great time to grab extra pencils, glue, scissors, and crayons for at home assignments.
Make a Family Calendar
While the calendar you have on your phone is helpful to you, having a family calendar for everyone to write important dates on can help keep everyone aware of what’s going on in and outside of your Locust Grove home. Surprise dates for sports, doctor appointments, meetings, and more can change everyone’s schedule.
Prepare for paperwork
Every year we find ourselves filling out forms for the littlest Jones and gathering up papers that have passwords to websites used at school. Then, in the middle of the year, we suddenly need a password on one of those papers. Having learned our lesson, we now keep a folder in the junk drawer in our kitchen and stash all those beginning of the year papers inside of it. Make a plan for your papers-whether it is a folder, a screenshot of the paper you save on your phone, or placed in a box in the office, you are more likely to find it when you need it.
