When my friend George from Crocs asked me to do a blog post for the about back to school and help promote the Crocs new line of back to school footwear (which I saw in Chicago and they are fantastic), I was more than happy to help him out because he has helped me out many times since I started my blog last November. So, here is my post about what back to school is going to mean to me this year.
”Back to school” three little words that can bring on such a wide variety of strong emotions for so many parents. Normally I am in the camp dancing around and singing “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” like they do in the Staples commercials. Summer is great, we join the pool, the kids all swim on the swim team, we travel, we stay up late watching movies and eating popcorn, but let’s face it 4 siblings can only spend so much time together in a small house before they completely drive each other and their parents crazy! Not to mention it becomes very tiring constantly trying to find things to keep them busy enough not to kill each other.
This year is a little different, although I am ready for a little peace and quiet and some me time, I am a little sad this year to see it all begin. 3 of my 4 children are making huge transitions in their school careers this year.
Let’s start with my daughter. She is 12 and she will be entering Jr. High this year. It seems like only yesterday she was standing on the corner waiting for the bus to Kindergarten in her cute pink outfit with a ponytail and a back pack that seemed bigger than her. Now she wants black Chuck Taylor Converse All Stars, wears t-shirts that say “I like boys who sparkle” (from the Twilight series) and *gulp* wears make-up. How will she get from class to class on time? Will she remember which books she needs from her locker? Will she eat right at lunch? Will she hang out in the hallways between classes with boys? Will she go to her first school dance? Will she begin asking to go to Friday night football games with her friends? *sigh* I am not ready for her to be so grown up already.
Next up is my son who is 10. He has spent the last 5 years under the protective comfortable cloak of Elementary School and will now be released into the jungle known as Middle School. In our school district when you enter 5th grade, all of the elementary schools are brought together under one roof and the students meet the kids they will finish out their school years with through High School. He will be exposed to 5 times the number of students, 5 times as much peer pressure and 5 times the number of teachers he is used to seeing. Kids of this age are going through so many changes physically, mentally and socially I wonder if the transition to Middle School is as scary for them as it is for me as a parent. Although I have already lived through this transition once with my daughter and we both survived, I am a little worried about my son, sometimes he tries a little too hard to fit in and be the “popular guy”, he is more of a follower than a leader, and in Middle School that can lead to things I don’t even want to think about. I have to just send him off each morning and hope he holds all the values and lessons I have taught him close and makes the right decisions.
I have to mention my 7 year old son here, even though he is not making a transition this year, it wouldn’t be fair to leave him out J He will be returning to the same safe happy environment he has grown to love over the last 2 years. Not to mention I will see him a lot because I am the President of the PTO at his school.
Finally, my son who is 3 will be going to preschool this year. I have such raw emotion about him going to school because he is my last baby who will embark on this journey toward a diploma. He has been hanging on my leg since the day he was born. Unlike my two oldest children, I have not worked a day in his life. We have been together for the last 3 ½ years pretty darn close to 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The thought of having to pry him off my leg and leave him screaming in the arms of the teacher causes me to have shortness of breath. I know it will be good for him it was good for my other kids. I know he will survive, they all did. I know he will have fun, how can you not have fun at preschool! Although I joke that he is like my third leg, I am going to miss him terribly even though it is just for a few hours a week.
So this all leaves me with the question “Who will I be when I don’t have to be “mom” because my 4 kids are in school all at the same time?” Maybe I will finally dig out those tossed aside scrapbooks, maybe I will be able to get caught up on the laundry, or maybe I will take a well deserved peaceful nap, I probably should go to the gym but that’s too much work lol! What will you be doing whey your kids go “back to school?”
Ok wipe away the tears and check this out. You could win your choice of one of the following styles of shoes from Crocs for you child to go back to school in style.
Here is what you need to do to win
1. Leave a comment telling me which pair of the Crocs listed above would you choose.
Bonus Entries
1. Subscribe to the Crocs Blog, leave a comment
2. Subscribe to my blog
3. Tweet this ” Check out some of the great new styles for back to school from @crocs and win a pair from @craftymamaof4 http://bit.ly/Ld4b2 ” (you can do this 3 times a day, leave a comment each time you tweet)
This contest will end on Sunday, August 30th at 10 pm EST. A winner will be drawn by Random.org and posted on this blog. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and claim their prize or a new winner will be chosen.
Make sure you goto Crocs.com they are having a great sale right now, the more you buy the more you save.
Buy 3 pair save 15%
Buy 4 pair save 20%
Buy 5 pair save 25%
~Kim
Tags: back to school, chicago, comfort, crocs, footwear, shoes 
School started yesterday and she was bummed to retire her ‘summer’ crocs. I think she’d choose either Sophia or MacKenzie but I’d leave it up to her!
I know my 3 yr old daughter would LOVE the MacKenzie style!
Back to School Rules….right? I have no clue. My 1st child is starting pre-school and I’m terrified. Mostly terrified of the other children and their effect’s on my little boy’s mind/heart. He doesn’t ignore anyone or anything so he will pick up on the emotions and the needs of others in his class. I just hope pre-school is a positive experience for him to launch his journey of learning.
Hey those Crocs Rock! My little guy would look really cool in the boys Teyton!
Happy Back to School!
Thanks Crocs
I would choose rhe girls MacKenzie ones.
I am a subscriber to your blog.
normally, I’m not a big fan of Crocs, but I have to say, all of the styles above look wonderful! Crocs have certainly come a long way! I like the girl’s Gabby-the butterfly adds just the right girly touch
I love the girls gretel! This site is cool, Kim, I’ll have to check it out some more. This is the first time I’ve ever visited someone’s blog.
I would choose the Teyton for my son. This shoes are a God-send. My son has Sensory Processing issues and refuses to wear so many different clothes, but he LOVES crocs!
It would be nice to change up the styles though, and the Teytons look a wee bit dressier than the original crocs design.
I think crocs are super ugly…BUT…super comfortable! I wear them all apple season when I’m on my feet for 12++ hours a day and my feet feel so much better than when I wear normal shoes. I would chose Girl’s Gretel from those listed above!
I would choose the girls MacKenzie they are too cute!
I subscribed to your blog.
Tweeted
http://twitter.com/StuffSmart/status/3581381705
My daughter would love the Girls Sophia. Right down her alley.
I subrscribed to the crocs blog. Didn’t even know there was one. Thanks for info and give a way.
My daughter just couldn’t decide, but finally decided she like the Girls Dawson! And me too! What great shoes!!
I subscribed to your blog also. Great work you do here. I need to pay attention so my blog can grow and be great!
I tweeted!!
http://twitter.com/BloemandGrow
I now subscribe!! What a great blog you have here!
The Girl’s MacKenzie!
Oh, wait, my son always gets left out: The Boy’s Teyton
I just tweeted but I do not know how to get the tweet # (done 8/27 at 8:43)
Loving the boys Teytons:)
I like the Boys Teyton and my cutie would be da bomb in them, especially since it doesn’t get cold here til January, then he can dawn some socks….me me me I want ‘em
I subscribe to you
I tweeted http://twitter.com/The_Jerri_Ann/status/3602998274
tweet tweet
http://twitter.com/The_Jerri_Ann/status/3610449517
http://twitter.com/The_Jerri_Ann/status/3615068947
http://twitter.com/The_Jerri_Ann/status/3613939483
The boys Teton is my pick
subscribed to Croc’s blog
I’m one of your subscribers too
Here’s my tweet http://twitter.com/JennatFFP/status/3617094227
http://twitter.com/The_Jerri_Ann/status/3625437757
My daughter would love the MacKenzie’s. She has a pair of pink crocs right now that are about a size to small but she wont give them up — she just LOVES them. So these pink ones that are a bit more girly would be the bomb for her. She loves to wear dresses and skirts and these will be really cute with these outfits.
tweet tweet http://twitter.com/The_Jerri_Ann/status/3630482350
tweet tweet http://twitter.com/The_Jerri_Ann/status/3634352165
tweet tweet http://twitter.com/The_Jerri_Ann/status/3645568098
http://twitter.com/The_Jerri_Ann/status/3651296933
tweeted…..tweeted http://twitter.com/FrugalRacingMom/statuses/3653096217
Peeep Peeep Tweet Tweeet http://twitter.com/The_Jerri_Ann/status/3654282418