Back to School: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (For Parents)

It’s happening.
The Target aisles are full of pencil cases and half-empty coffee cups.
The kids are asking, “Wait, school starts already?”
And me? I’m just over here humming “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” while stuffing lunchboxes like a deli line cook.

Back to school season is magical—but not in the way it was when you were a kid. As a parent, it’s more like a weird mix of freedom, chaos, and logistical gymnastics. You get your days back (kind of), but now you have 47 school emails, 2 missing water bottles, and a drop-off line that operates on Mad Max rules.

At our house, back to school looks like this:

• My kids picking out outfits like it’s Fashion Week, only to wear athletic shorts anyway.

• Me realizing I forgot to order new shoes and hoping no one notices the hole in the toe.

• The baby waking up exactly when we need to leave.

• And me frantically trying to remember which day is library day so no one ends up crying over overdue Pete the Cat books.

But here’s the thing: as much as I love summer—the lazy mornings, the popsicles, the "no one wears pants unless we’re going somewhere" vibe—there’s something comforting about the rhythm of the school year. The routines. The quiet(ish) house. The 6-minute gap between drop-off and the first email ping that feels like a spa retreat.

So to all the fellow dads and moms gearing up this week—sharpen those pencils, pack those Lunchables, and take that first day of school photo even if your kid looks like they just woke up from a 3-month nap. Because they did.

Here’s to fresh starts, working Wi-Fi, and finally drinking your coffee while it’s still warm.