Just 8 things parents know to be true about the back-to-school rush.

It’s the most magical time of the year. That’s right, it’s back-to-school season. Parents all over the nation are eagerly anticipating the end of the holidays.

You see, holidays are relaxing, until you become a parent. Now they're just a massive void of time that needs filling, planning and supervising. Every week is different, it’s hard to keep track of what day it is and for some reason, grandparents are always away on their own holidays at the same time. 

Back-to-school marks the glorious return of our precious routine. Whether you’re returning to work or working in the home, we can all agree school is much easier than holiday mode parenting.

Before we can enjoy the perks of having someone else taking care of the kids (and the emotional, social and academic benefits of school, yeah that too), there’s the manic back-to-school scramble to get through. 

No matter how prepared you are, it’s always a wild time. Here are 8 things parents know to be true about the back-to-school rush.

1. Half of your back-to-school supplies will be lost by week two.

I don’t make the rules, I just live them. I love all the excitement of school supply shopping. But let's face it, within a few days of school starting, at least one pencil case will have vanished into the black hole of the universe. Is it behind the couch? In the library? Under their friend Zoe’s bed? 

Pro tip: Label everything, inside and out with a pen or a stamp, not a label that can peel off. If there’s room, pop your mobile number along with your child’s full name so that other parents can easily text you if they come across the rogue item. 

2. Their lunchbox preferences will change again.

Making lunchboxes is my love language. Which is why it stings every back-to-school period when the only feedback I receive is, "I don’t like [insert culinary masterpiece I slaved over] anymore," or "don't you know I prefer wraps over sandwiches now?"

Firm favourites will suddenly be relegated to the bottom of the list, go-to snack selections will be completely unacceptable, and also they love tomatoes now. Okay?

Image: Supplied. 

3. Uniforms make life so much easier. 

Without a doubt school uniforms are one of the best things about the kids going back to the classroom. No more arguing about what they’ll wear each day and no chance for multiple costume changes. Look, we’re never going to conquer my pile of laundry between school uniforms, sports kits and dance wear, but at least you don’t have to bribe the washing machine to change out of a tutu.

4. You can find intense joy in the back-to-school soak.

Speaking of laundry, let’s take a minute to enjoy the oddly satisfying activity that is soaking a massive bucket of grey-ish school socks to bleach them back to white. If you’re not doing this yet, this is your sign. Sharing the grotty 'soaking soup' on social media only adds to the joy. Just ask TikTok.

Image: Supplied. 

5. Mornings are your cardio.

On a school morning I’ll regularly rack up 5,000 steps before we’ve made it to the school gate. There’s breakfast to eat, forgotten homework to do, hair to braid, and uniforms to put on. Not to mention a quick game of 'school bag Tetris' as we try to squeeze in the extracurricular outfits, reading folder and lunchbox. There is so much to do so quickly before sprinting out of the door. Who knew that brushing teeth could become an Olympic sport?

6. Head lice runs rampant.

Every mum, especially if you have girls, knows that sometimes, no matter how tightly you braid their hair – they're going to come back from school with head lice. Yes, it can cause a mini meltdown, but the truth is, it happens to the best of us. 

7. Your social schedule will once again become sports-based. 

After-school activities just grow and grow. You enrol in one and two more pop up. And for extra fun, these ones are on the weekend now too, what a joy. Between ballet, soccer and swimming, it's a juggling act worthy of the Thursday afternoon circus club you don’t have time to sign up for. 

Pro tip: pick activities with class friends in them so you can share the run from school to after-school activity. 

8. Your kid aged 2 years in the two-week holiday.

Nothing reminds you how fast your child is growing up than the first morning drop off after the school holidays. Their uniforms are suddenly inches shorter, they greet their friends with confidence and correct you when you pronounce their friends name wrong. One minute they're holding your hand, wide-eyed through their first term of school, the next they're striding towards the playground, ready to take on the world. It’s easy to get caught up in the back-to-school rush, but take a moment to celebrate the amazing thing you’ve done, before it’s time to get back for school pick-up.

Shop MOOV's Head Lice Solution, clinically proven to kill head lice in just 10 minutes. 

Reapplications at 7 and 14 days are necessary to help break the head lice life cycle.

Always read the label and follow the directions for use. 

Feature Image: Supplied.