The gist: Back to school comes with excitement, routines, and a little bit of strategy — especially when you’ve got three kids, a teacher dad, and a love for structure (and snack aisle surprises). We start early. Three weeks before school starts, we shift bedtime and wake-up times. ➡️ Why? Because nobody wants a first-day meltdown at 6:45 a.m. It’s gradual. It’s gentle. And it works. School supplies are sacred. We stick to the teacher’s list. Period. 📚 Dad’s a teacher — he gets it. The specific pencils? There’s a reason. The brand of markers? It matters. It’s not about being picky — it’s about experience. Teachers know which supplies hold up and which end up in the trash (or in tears). Outfits: Picture Day wins. Back to school in August = sweaty kids in fall clothes. Instead of dressing up for the first day, our girls choose their Picture Day outfit. 🖼 That way, the cute boots and layered dress actually make sense when temps cool down . Clothes? Christmas, mostly. Thanks...