Mission: Crayola

I had to run The Peanut's lunch to school this morning because it got left behind in the rush out the door.  Today's lunch menu was, in her words, "super blecky gross."  And she's so skinny, that having her miss a meal is not an option.

In talking with her teacher while there, I discovered that the class is low on crayons and glue sticks to get them through to the end of the year.

Oh, the horror!

Actually, this is awesome.  It gives me a reason to comb through the office supply sections of local stores.  One of my absolute favorite things in all the world is to explore an office supply store.

I could, quite honestly, spend hours just roaming in our local Staples.

I love the smell of crayons and pencils.  Don't get me started on the joys of post-it notes.  Or stationary stores. 



Yes, I admit it, I'm that sort of uber-geek who loved the start of school because I got a new ruler and cool folders and brand-spanking-new Crayolas out of it, with their squared-off tips perfectly aligned at the top of the box, begging to be used to create a kaleidescopic masterpiece.  Bliss in waxed form.

I still feel that way.  

These days, at the start of the school year, I put together a huge plastic tote full of school supplies for my daughter's classroom:  ruled paper, construction paper, extra crayons and safety scissors and glue sticks, loads of pencils and even more Clorox wipes.   I try to gauge what they'll need based on the supplies list we get from her school, and then toss in some extras like reward stickers and other things that would have to come out-of-pocket for her teacher.  Plus, the tote comes in handy for storage through the year.

It all adds up to around $100.00 total, but I get most of the stuff on sale over the summer and/or stocking up when the school supplies go on sale.  We have a similar bin that I keep at our house for our daughter, from which she can grab pencils, paper or crayons for school whenever hers disappear into that great void that is her desk.

My mom taught school for over 30 years, and I can remember what it was like scrounging together supplies for her class on that meager teacher's salary and the even teenier budget they had for supplies every year.

My mom taught in public school in a wealthier school district, but there were always kids who could barely afford new shoes or decent clothes, let alone school supplies.  So we always tried to stock up when we found them on sale.  She would quietly and privately hand out a new folder and some crayons to a child whose eyes would shine with delight at having something of her own.  It always made her day to be able to do so, because she grew up pretty poor herself and knew what it was like to cherish something new, too.

Guess I just picked up the habit.

Even though our daughter goes to private school, her teachers still don't make nearly the money they should given the difficulty of the job they do and how important it is.  This is my little way of giving back.

In return, it gives back to me.  I get to browse through the office supply stores today.  Woo hoo!  New printed file folders and label maker tape and perhaps even a new box of crayons just for me?  I am so there...

(Colorful crayon shot via Special.  Love the crispness of this shot!)