Here’s Why We Shouldn’t Complain About Buying Back to School Supplies

Buying back to school supplies ain’t what it used to be. I remember when I was a kid, all we needed were some pencils, a pack of paper, maybe a couple of notebooks, and a box of crayons. It got a little more complicated as I got older, sure. But nothing compared to the mammoth lists of today. Kids today are expected to bring hand sanitizer, scissors, binders, dictionaries, their own box of tissues, even. While it all might feel daunting, though, here’s why we shouldn’t complain about buying back to school supplies, especially not in front of our kids.

Blogger Rachel Martin run the site Finding Joy, and she recently took to social media to give parents a bit of advice: Stop complaining about buying back to school supplies. Yes, it gets expensive. Yes, it’s tedious. But Martin advises her readers to take something into consideration: the fact that our children are listening.

Buying Back to School Supplies Is About More Than Us

Martin details her recent trip for school supplies at her local Target, which she felt was full of folks complaining. She turns it around on parents, though, with this simple statement:

“If we want them excited about school doesn’t it start with us?”

She’s got something of a point.

Martin continues: “I get that it costs money, I get that. I get that the lists are crazy long and with that one green plastic no prong folder that sells out on week one. I get that money can be tight. But no matter what – your, our, words matter.”

The blogger compares her experiences in Haiti and how we should all feel fortunate that our kids are receiving an education at all.

“When I was in Haiti there was no education. Parents worked many jobs so their children could get a chance to attend school. Education matters. No matter what way – public, virtual, private, homeschool – education changes our children’s lives.

So be excited about those supplies.”

You can read her full post below:

https://www.facebook.com/findingjoyblog/posts/1587211701318125:0

What do you think, parents? Should we suck it up and try to keep the complaints to a minimum? Or is it more complicated than that? Certainly a more privileged parent has less to complain about when it comes to spending $100+ on supplies as they won’t have to count pennies to figure out their lunch plans. So maybe it depends on your own socioeconomic position.

I’d say this: if you can afford the supplies, but it means you have to cancel a manicure maybe, then don’t complain. But also, maybe buy some extra for the families who do struggle to make ends meet on the daily. That way, maybe they won’t feel the need to complain as much either, and then we can make sure all kids are excited about school””the way they should be.