Whether you homeschool like I do or send your little ones off to school, one thing’s for sure - a smooth school year starts with a solid plan. And no, I’m not talking about perfection. I’m talking about preparation that gives you peace of mind, flexibility when life happens, and time to actually enjoy the moments.
If you’re looking for simple ways to start strong this fall, here are a few real-mom tips that help me stay on top of things (without losing my mind).
Every kid needs:
Fresh notebooks, pencils, crayons (or restocked homeschool bins)
A clean lunchbox and water bottle
A few new outfits or comfy staples that fit
Pro tip: I always grab my girls a few fun tees from our Back to School Collection - something that makes them feel good and gives them confidence on day one.
Instead of flipping from summer chaos to 6AM alarms overnight, we start adjusting bedtime and wake-up 2 weeks before school begins.
We also slowly:
Bring back “quiet time” or structured activities
Prep our homeschool space
Talk about what mornings will look like
Even small shifts make those first weeks smoother.
Even if it’s just a basket or clipboard, having one spot for:
School forms
Weekly planner
Important dates
helps keep everything (and everyone) more organized.
I like to write out my weekly business tasks too, so I can make sure I’m giving both my kids and my brand the attention they need.
I’m not a Pinterest lunchbox mom - but I do know that hangry kids = chaos.
We keep a simple list of:
Easy meals they’ll actually eat
After-school snacks
Grocery must-haves to grab each Sunday
Bonus: Let your kids help pick lunches! It gives them some ownership and saves you the “I don’t want this” drama.
Every school year has its bumps. The key is not trying to do it all - it’s doing what works for your family. Some days you’ll crush it. Some days you’ll forget the water bottle or oversleep. You’re still a good mom. The fact that you’re even thinking ahead already puts you on the right path.
From first day ‘fits to comfy work-from-home tees, we’ve got you covered.
Check out our Back to School collection - made with love for real moms and real life.
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Amber Bowie
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