4 Things The Pro Mom Does Before School Starts

Are you a pre-planner or a procrastinator?

1. Ease Into a School Year Schedule

If it's the night before the first day of school and you're just now enforcing a rigidly early bedtime followed by a painfully early wake-up call, just plan to fail miserably. Seasoned moms know you can't go from Summer to the first day of school with the flip of a night light switch. It takes weeks to slowly return to a school-year schedule, and it begins by waking late sleepers earlier and earlier until they're body clock adjusts.

2. Create a Master Calendar

You might have a Google calendar synced up with your partner, but for elementary-school-aged kids, it's a good idea to have a large, printed or whiteboard (easier to make edits!) calendar that is in an easy-to-spot, highly trafficked place in the house. This way, you can see what's happening with everyone, including after-school events and childcare schedules, at a glance.

3. Keep That Calendar Clear the First Two Weeks

The thought of your child in someone else's care for a solid eight hours might make you jump at the chance to get to all those doctor's appointments, but hold off just a bit longer. Try to wait to schedule a haircut or your car's oil change or an important board meeting until your kids have gotten through one or two weeks of school. Even the most prepared moms can't predict the unexpected, but they can be available for when it inevitably happens.

4. Purge the Craft Bin

Before the school year starts, take an afternoon to purge the house of anything that's on its last legs — half-used pencils, sticky scissors, broken crayons. Or if pitching nearly dried-up markers feels wasteful, set aside in a pile that you know is only going to last you a few more activities. This will help you decide what you actually need to buy when the back-to-school sales begin.

You can read the rest of this article on Pop Sugar Moms. When you're finished reading, leave us a comment with your best tips and tricks for being organized for back to school.