This week we did bit of back-to-school shopping. We bought everything online and the kids are excited to receive their packages over the next couple of weeks.

It seemed a bit strange to be buying backpacks and lunchboxes before I even know when our kids will be physically going to school. However, with so much uncertainty in the air, I thought it was especially important to do something to help our kids get excited to start a new school year. Back-to-school shopping reminds us to savor the last few weeks of summer. That our kids are starting a new adventure. And that, as different as this school year may be, our kids will still be reading, writing, making friends, and learning about the world.

While shopping for our back-to-school supplies, I realized that I have yet to write down our kids’ thoughts about the pandemic. The start of a new school year is the end of last year’s crisis learning and our summer stuck at home. We don’t know what the new school year will bring, but I think it is important to write down their memories so we can move forward and help our kids see this school year as a fresh start. They do not need to carry the weight of the last few months on their shoulders. And while we parents can deal with the complexities of the coronavirus and the upcoming school year, they can be kids and get excited about new shoes, new water bottles and keychains.