Back-to-School, Orderly Style: From Chaos to Calm (Mostly)
The first week of school always sneaks up on me. One minute it’s July and the kids are living on popsicles and pool water, and the next minute I’m staring at a school supply list that looks like it was written by NASA.
Every year, I tell myself this time we’ll be ready. And every year, reality sets in. That one backpack we swore was in good shape? Broken zipper. The carefully chosen back-to-school outfits? Covered in mysteries stains the night before school starts. The lunchbox? Let’s just say I’ve learned that nothing good comes from discovering last year’s yogurt tube.
But here’s the thing—I love this season. It’s a fresh start, not just for the kids but for me too. A chance to set up little systems that make the mornings smoother, the afternoons calmer, and the paper piles…well, at least containable.
Here’s what I’ve learned (and yes, tried, tested, and occasionally failed at) over the years:
✨ The Launch Pad
We set up a spot by the door where backpacks, shoes, and lunchboxes live. Does it always work? Honestly, no. Sometimes shoes wander, but at least they don’t disappear into another dimension like they used to.
✨ The Snack Station
This is my sanity saver. A couple baskets in the pantry and one in the fridge with kid-friendly snacks means they can pack lunches or grab something after school without shouting, “MOM, WHERE ARE THE GRANOLA BARS?!” (They’ll still shout it, but now I just point.)
✨ The Paper Pile Problem
If you have kids, you know. The avalanche of papers is real—permission slips, newsletters, and approximately one million “art masterpieces.” We created a single bin for everything. The rule: papers go there first, decisions later. It’s like a waiting room for paperwork. Their job is to unload their folders/backpacks when they get home and mine is to try to deal with it before bedtime each night!
✨ The Weekly Reset
Sunday evenings, I take 15 minutes to check the calendar, restock snacks, and mentally prepare myself for the week ahead. It’s not glamorous, but it’s the difference between Monday morning panic and Monday morning manageable.
So no, our mornings aren’t perfect. There are still frantic sock hunts and “I forgot my project!” moments. But we’ve shifted from total chaos to functional chaos. And honestly, that feels like a win.
If you’re staring at the back-to-school season feeling like you need a personal assistant (or maybe just a magic wand), that’s where I come in. Orderly helps families create systems that actually stick—so you spend less time scrambling and more time savoring that first quiet sip of coffee after the bus pulls away.
Here’s to a school year with a little less stress and a little more order. (And may all the yogurt tubes be found before next June.)
Heather
