Thank you for joining us for the very first installment in our Views on Back-to-School blog series! Throughout August and September, VolunteerSpot is honored to be featuring guest posts from our favorite bloggers on what back-to-school means for them. Today, please welcome Tina Kelley, author of Mad Hatter Mom where moms, step-moms, and military wives can find solace (and laughter). Tina will be sharing her thoughts on how back-to-school shopping can provide valuable bonding time for siblings of all ages. Thanks Tina!
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Family Bonding During Back-to-School Shopping
By Tina Kelley
I have a little secret to share with you.
The life of a blended family is complicated. Right, I know that's a big shocker.
See,
there are close to 12 years difference between my youngest step
daughter and my oldest son. Trying to find family outings that all of
us can enjoy is extremely hard. If a place is perfect for the older
kids, it's not age appropriate for the little kids and if it's perfect
for the little kids the older kids are going to be bored.
But
there is a certain time of the summer that bridges the gap. You know
the time I'm talking about; that time when mothers everywhere breathe a
sigh of relief because the countdown has begun. The countdown to the
end of fighting, the end of hearing that so dreaded phase, "I'm bored."
That's right folks, I'm talking about Back To School time!
Back
to School shopping is a time when ALL of my children have a
commonality. I get to sit, or rather stand, at the back of the shopping
cart and marvel as my kids bond over pencil boxes, folders, and glue
sticks. In years past I've witnessed my then 4 and 16 year old crack up
laughing over not recognizing a pencil sharpener when they see it. I've
been blessed to see my older kids become little ones again as they help
their younger siblings pick out the coolest pencils or the most awesome
backpack.
Make
Back to School shopping a time when your kids can enjoy one another. If
the kids in your household are closer in age, give them their own
school lists and partner them up. Give them a budget for the supplies
and then set them loose. (It's probably a good idea to research prices
first so you can set a reasonable budget.) I think you will be amazed
at how they can work together as a team and have fun in the process.
And if you are like me and your kids are further apart, still partner
them up. The younger kids will look to their older siblings for advice
and the older kids will love being idolized. Now I'm not saying you won't
have any bickering, they are still siblings; but if you look at
the experience as a whole it will be enjoyable.
With
all the other complications of living in a blended family, the
visitation, differing parenting styles, and child support, just to name
a few; the last thing you need to do is add to the list.
Whether
the age gap is 10 years or 10 months, let them enjoy this bonding time
with each other because really, that's what being a family is all
about.
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Tina Kelley is a lover of Cherry Coke, books, and great brands. She is the lone author of Mad Hatter Mom, where moms, step-moms, and military wives can find solace. (Or just someone to laugh at.) She
resides in Oregon with her two rambunctious kids under 6, and her two
lovely step-daughters, thanks to her wonderful airman husband. You can also find her on Twitter and Facebook.
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