Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
The start of the school season isn’t just for children to get back in the swing of things. It’s also a busy time for parents to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible.
In doing so, they may encounter a snag or two, which can be slightly tense. Instead, many found the humor in the situation and shared it online for a few wholesome laughs.
As always, we’ve compiled some of the best stories. If you’re a parent dealing with PTA emails, the contents of your kid’s lunchbox, and what they want to wear on the first day, kudos. Take your much-deserved breather and enjoy reading these posts, which you may instantly connect with.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
RELATED:
#2
Tempest 1 year ago
Automatic A+ for all the students AND the good doggo (for helping the kids out)!
Me. Just Me. 1 year ago
Now the dog needs to be brought to the classroom so all the kids can meet the Good Boi.
Load More Replies...
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
One of my teacher's ducks destroyed homework once, but I can't remember if it was like this or just pooing on it.
Joshua David 1 year ago
This makes me HOPE this dog wasn't abused or mistreated for this. I am an adopter of huskies and have been since 1992. I take abused and mistreated ones that are in dire shape and rehab and love them till my next one. I prefer special needs dogs with behavioral problems, puppy mills and abusive homes.
#3
MandyMolaFizzyCola 1 year ago
When he was in grad school, one of my besties named his backpack Jared. That way, if he forgot any materials for his classes/research, he could say, "Dammit, Jared, I told you we needed No. 2 pencils today!!!"
The routine change from carefree summer days can be challenging for some kids, so it shouldn’t feel like punishment. Family therapist Gayane Aramyan told CNBC that one way to ease them in is to let them know beforehand.
Start cutting back on TV time at night and getting them used to waking up early again. Aramyan recommends implementing these slow changes two weeks before school begins to give them enough time to adapt to the routine.
#4
Joshua David 1 year ago
Get him involved in physical books as much as you can. Digital versions can dissappear.
Cat Chat 1 year ago
There are a lot of pros to having digital books as an option. For varying reasons, it has increased readership. Being able to self publish means many authors have been able to share their work when the more critical large publishers don't. People can also carry their entire library without cutting down a forest. No need to demonize or get rid of an option just because you prefer another. I think kids should have a fine mix of both.
Load More Replies...
#5
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 1 year ago
It's a fair question. I wouldn't have minded being late.
Red PANda (she/they/he/ze) 1 year ago
The awkward silence and everyone’s eyes on you as you enter late…
Load More Replies...
Winter Eleven 1 year ago
I was the one hurrying my dad because he would always drag his feet and say "relax it's school you can be a little late, we're blame the traffic" I told the teacher it wqs traffic (every time) I was called irresponsible child. Nobody blamed my dad. He was the only ride to school i had, the bus line didn't reach our area till i got to high school where i was always one hour early and never late again
#6
Tempest 1 year ago (edited)
Our school (one complex for primary through high school) converted the only PE ground into a parking lot for the staff vehicles. Luckily I was nearly finished with school then. Feel sorry for the younger kids who had no choice but to resort to running around the hallways during breaks.
Lewis KR 1 year ago
Is this normal in the US? I spent every moment I could of break time and lunch outside on the playground/ playing field up to age 16 (in the UK)
Orange Panda 1 year ago
High school has fields but no jungle gyms/slides and swings/playground equipment. I don't know about middle school/jr high, we didn't have one in my district at the time.
Load More Replies... 
Lupita Nyong'heaux 1 year ago
In the U.S., it was called junior high school back in my day - also known as "the before times" - and it was the school between elementary school (grades 1-6, ages 6-11) and high school (grades 9-12, ages 14-17). It was 7th and 8th grades (ages 12-13). *ages are the general average and are for educational purposes only.
Load More Replies... 
Jocelyn Webster 1 year ago
Lol!!! I'm Canadian. No middle school. But I moved schools in grade 4. Just tether ball and soccer fields. I understand wee one. I understand.
Stannous Flouride 1 year ago
Wait til they find out jobs don't give you summer vacations or recess.
John Dilligaf 1 year ago
back in my day we had Jr High, grades 7 and 8 (ages 13 & 14 appox). We didn't have "recess" anymore, like elementary school students. We had PE (Physical Education). We didn't have a "playground,", we had a gym and an athletic field where we did PE.
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
That was one of the first things we were told on our transition/orientation sessions before we finished primary school. We all then tried to remember to call our first break recess not, play lunch.
It is common among kids between 18 months and three years old to feel separation anxiety from their parents. That could cause problematic mornings, especially during drop-offs.
Aramyan advises parents to remind their kids that mommy or daddy will pick them up after. She says one important thing to remember is “to vocalize that every single day.”
#7
Michael Largey 1 year ago
Rotate it 45 degrees, and it's a fun-shaped diamond sandwhich.
Load More Replies...
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
I personally hate that some parents cut sandwiches into shapes because they just extend the time the child gets away with refusing crusts that go to waste.
nottheactualphoto 1 year ago
I've never understood refusing the crusts. When I was a kid, the crust was my favorite part of the bread. Still is.
Load More Replies... Littlemiss 1 year ago (edited)
Boo! I used cookie cutters and got more excited than my 5 year old at my creations. To be fair, I never had homemade lunch at school.
#8
Snowy Ashton 1 year ago
When my nephew was in public school band, apparently before any of the woodwind/brass instrument playing kids could learn how to actually play notes, they had to learn how to blow through the mouthpieces of their instruments, making noise while doing so. Maybe this is what they mean? I really don't understand that kind of teaching; it wasn't done when I was in band in the early 2000's.
#9
Social pressure is another back-to-school stressor. Since the pandemic has negatively affected the social skills of many children, clinical psychologist Dr. Jessica Gomez encourages parents to also focus on opportunities to practice being a good friend.
"The more practice children have, the better they can be at navigating social skills, friendships, and how to deal with bullying," Dr. Gomez told CBS News.
#10
Nickie Chan 1 year ago
Got a call from my son's preschool for a meeting today. Apparently, he managed to become Al capone in his class. He leads the other kids in rebelling against authorities, climbing onto shelves, hiding under tables... Sigh.... Time to find another preschool
#11
Dark Pearl 1 year ago
why would you have such high expectations lol i'm going into yr 11 and i've given up on teenage boys' hygiene
Panda Bear 1 year ago
When I was touring colleges I could always tell the difference between boys and girls dorms just by the smell
#12
Heather Talma 1 year ago
That's my niece in preschool. She doesn't remember anything she did and she has lots of friends but knows none of their names.
School bullying has been on the rise for the past five years, according to surveys. Some kids have it worse, and their cases sometimes lead to self-harm.
Prevention is always the best solution, and Dr. Gomez urges parents to educate their children about setting boundaries and when to raise their concerns.
If your kid has experienced bullying, Dr. Gomez emphasized the importance of being there for them. She suggests asking questions to genuinely learn about their school life instead of giving lectures.
#13
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
Usually crazy hair day etc are specifically for certain charities, in Australia anyway. You pay a gold coin ($1 or $2) for the chance to wear the things related to the charity (like Jeans for Genes day) and then it gets donated to them. The 100 days of school is something that has just started infiltrating here and I find it a bit weird personally.
Sophia Athene 1 year ago (edited)
I know it's only a couple of $$ but I would hate to expect parents to pay for even more things just so their kids can participate. Students who can't pay would quickly be labeled poor and treated badly in our schools where I'm at (happened to me as a kid too) and it would be obvious who couldn't pay. My mom drove all over town for hours once just to find a single affordable shirt for one of these days. God bless her for it. She did without that week for me to have that shirt (I still have it all these years later). One teacher knew about our situation and casually handed me a small paper bag one day when I left class. She bought me that themed shirt and had slipped it to me so no one would notice.
Load More Replies... Joshua David 1 year ago
Once in 6th grade in 1990, i (thought) i heard the teacher say to dress up for halloween the next day. I came in hot and was the only one who dressed up. Derp.
#14
#15
Heather Atwood 1 year ago
Why would you wake your child up? If they are old enough to cry about going to school, they can set an alarm!?!
Cat Chat 1 year ago
Some parents are just nice that way. In our house we use both alarms and a parent wake up as a backup.
Load More Replies...Now, we’d like to hear from our readers. How are you dealing with back-to-school season? Let’s talk about it in the comments!
#16
#17
Keller Worthen 1 year ago
Every day for high school, unfortunately. As someone who rides my bike to school often, it's quite terrifying.
Load More Replies... Heather Atwood 1 year ago
In our automotive class: "Raise your hand if you drive. Now keep your hand up if you have an actual license. No keep your hand up if you have insurance". From 26 kids down to 1 who's legal to drive ;)
#18
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
I had a kid say the other day 'I'm going to say all the F words' and as he began saying fire truck etc, I said 'You don't need to list them all' because I really didn't want to listen to them say all the words they knew starting with F.
#19
#20
#21
Manana Man 1 year ago
I think the long summer break was originally because kids were needed to help out on the farm.
SkyBlueandBlack 1 year ago
No. Help on the farm is needed for planting (spring) and harvest (fall). Summer break is because rich families took their kids on vacation during the summer.
Load More Replies...
Michael Largey 1 year ago
No good for teachers who have to work a second job during the summer because of the lousy pay the school gives them.
Brandy Bryan 1 year ago
Shorter breaks scattered throughout the year is actually harder to find reliable child care.
George Costanza 1 year ago
This. The long summer break in the US is idiotic. And horrendous for households where both parents work full time.
Bec 1 year ago
While I agree year-round school makes more sense, summer break allowed us to have partial custody of my husband's son, as he lived several hundred miles away.
Load More Replies...
Heather Atwood 1 year ago
YESSSSSS!!!!! So many kids have trouble with the loss of structure over the summer and we spend a week getting back into the rhythm. Lots of kids are left all alone or babysit siblings in the summer. They don't get meals and I have found that a lot of my students feel like school may be the only safe place for them.
Heather Talma 1 year ago
I feel like at this point schools aren't built for summering in, at least older ones. They have central heating but do they have proper AC?
Laura Lawson 1 year ago
I live in Australia now but was brought up in Canada. The Australian school system is exactly as this poster describes. Kids start school end of Jan (still summer here) & the year is split into 4 terms with 1-2 week breaks in between. Primary school ends near the end of Dec & high schools often end a week earlier, depending on the grade & if it's a private or public school. It's so much better for the kids & parents. I don't know how my parents survived a 3 month school holiday! I was so ready to send my kids back after 6 weeks! 😆
Chewie Baron 1 year ago (edited)
In the UK it was for me, a week off for half term in October, two weeks off for Christmas, a week for half term in February (which I liked as sometimes my birthday would fall in that week), two weeks for Easter, a week for half term in May and then the six weeks off for summer from the third week in July.
#22
Sophia Athene 1 year ago
Comments from my university students are always less reading, fewer quizzes, fewer exams. I cut down on all those. Next semester, less reading, fewer quizzes... I tell newbie uni profs to accept it fast b/c you could give them one page, one quiz, one exam, and you would still get the same comments. The hard part is learning how much is the best for students in your subject b/c nobody likes quizzes, exams, etc.
Michael Largey 1 year ago (edited)
When my students were listening for the next crazyass thing I'd say or do, they were listening.
#23
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
My mum only took photos on the significant first days. First day of primary school and the first day of school the year we were all there (my youngest siblings starting prep, my middle brother starting year 7 and I was starting year 9). Never had social media then anyway and mum wouldn't have had time to use it if we did.
#25
PrettyJoyBird 1 year ago (edited)
Correction 4 boxes of 18....?! Oh a new one this year 4 boxes of 12 SHARPENED pencils. Cost twice as much then a 25 cent unsharpened pencil.
Winter 1 year ago
Buy the box of 24, take out six and hide them - don't tell the child! When child comes home saying they've lost/broken one (or two or three) Tell them that you'll see what you can do. While they're asleep, retrieve the correct number needed from your hidden stash of crayons, and present it/them to your child the following morning, before they go to school. That'll mystify them and make them think you're *really* amazing! ;)
Science Nerd 1 year ago
Buy a box of 24 but throw away six that have names you recognize, like black, red, and blue. Make sure you keep the white crayon.
Wysteria_Rose 1 year ago
And they MUST have specific shades that are not made in the mass-produced brands.
#26
Weirdo with Internet 1 year ago
Socialization makes the memories, not the learning.(In my opinion)
Red PANda (she/they/he/ze) 1 year ago
This is why I like class discussions
Load More Replies...
#28
Sue Denham 1 year ago
As i remember it these requests (especially for the home cooking requirements) arrived around twelve hours before they needed to be delivered.
Tempest 1 year ago (edited)
That’s when they were delivered from the school. To the kid. The kid’s delivery of these requests to the parents would be 11 pm on the night before the activity day.
Load More Replies...
Alyssa Phillips 1 year ago
We aren't allowed to bring homemade food to share. Prepackaged, labels intact.
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
We never had those sort of things at the start of school, until we were starting year 11 & 12 and had to do homework over the holidays. Our first 'homework' for the year was always to design a front cover for our subject books.
highwaycrossingfrog 1 year ago
Our first homework was always to cover all our schoolbooks in wrapping paper!
Load More Replies... Sophia Athene 1 year ago
I thought this was a joke about all the info and requests that come with returning to class. What did I miss?
Science Nerd 1 year ago
My grandmother always made peanut brittle for us, but no I can’t share family memories.
#29
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
Even with the smallest package, we always had at least two wallet sized photos we didn't need. The prices have shot up ridiculously since I was in school too.
#30
#31
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
I was a weird teenager who loved picking my little sister up from school, getting her to do her homework as soon as she got home, and signing any permission forms etc. Mum has the same initials as me so I didn't even forge her signature, I just signed my own one.
Heather Atwood 1 year ago
I always make sure to thank attentive parents, they make our lives easier!
#32
Cathy Jo Baker 1 year ago
Yeah, it's rough, isn't it? Now you know why teachers look forward to summer break!
PrettyJoyBird 1 year ago
Parents are in parent mode 24/7 365. Some single parents w no breaks. Teachers of young kids who are also parents of toddlers Bless them!
Load More Replies...
Robert Trebor 1 year ago
I thought that was why you sent the kids to school. So you could get the rest of your life out of the way.
#33
Philly Bob Squires 1 year ago
My daughter was, but unfortunately not for my wife... I can't even LOL about it as she would kill me at least i was eight there with her as she called me the spawn of satan and other choice words. My beautiful daughter is now 38 years old, and looks like her Mom who was gorgeous but a lying cheating bish... Thank stars my girl got mom's looks and my smarts! LOL!
Load More Replies...
#34
#35
Tempest 1 year ago
Pretty sure my parents are glad that email and other modern media communications were not used when my siblings and I were in school. All they had to communicate with the parents were printed notices that the student was supposed to show the parent and get signed as proof. They had to give out such notices in advance cause there were always some students who kept forgetting about it, students who misplaced the paper, and at least one who made a paper plane and flew it.
#36
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
I was very surprised when I started at the school I work at how early kids started getting picked up. I understand from the parent's perspective, because they don't have much of a carpark and so most have to use the pick up line. As a teacher though, the last hour or more (equivalent to 1 and a half lessons) seems like a waste as students leave. When I was in school, more parents parked early and met their kids at the classroom when the bell went, or walked to pick them up/let them walk home.
Susan 1 year ago
From my experience, I don't think they meant they were getting the kids out of school an hour early. They were commenting on how early the pick up line begins to queue.
Load More Replies... Lewis KR 1 year ago
Everyone seems to drive their kids to school now. Does nobody walk them in or put them on a school bus?
Bec 1 year ago
I can't wrap my head around it. Who has an hour to go sit at their child's school in the middle of the afternoon? I went to a rural school, everyone rode the bus. The only time I got picked up was for a Dr. Appointment. When I had after school sports, I had to wait until 5:30ish, when mom got off work and made it out to get me. Everyone wanted their license and a car at 16 so they didn't have to spend an hour+ riding the bus home
Load More Replies...
Unicorn Handstand 1 year ago
I'm a sophomore now, and last year my school had about 1650 ish students. When I would go to the bathroom near the end of the day, I would see some cars lined up already an hour before school let out. By the time the final bell rang, the line of cars was literally IN THE STREET. If I get picked up now, I always do it with the gym entrance, and even then there's a SUPER long line. It's also hazardous to drive there bc there's a bunch of 16 or 17 year olds trying to leave school ASAP. Glad I walk after school, weather permitting.
nottheactualphoto 1 year ago
I don't think I ever got driven to or from school. We walked, took the bus or rode the subway.
Load More Replies... yepyepyepuhhuh 1 year ago
When I had to pick my kids up I would time it to be there when almost everyone was already through. I am not waiting in an idling car for 30 minutes if I can help it!
#37
Alyssa Phillips 1 year ago
I literally sent this message last week. "Last minute school shopping and just overheard a mom and dad arguing because the mom refuses to buy cra-z-art crayons. Dad said fine what about Rosa art and the mom just said "I don't even know you" and walked away. 😂😂"
Heather Atwood 1 year ago
I bought all of my children the 64 count with the sharpener because I always wanted it but my mom wouldn't buy them.
Philly Bob Squires 1 year ago
Burnt Sinnia, Mauve, Fuchia, Magenta etc... LOL!
Load More Replies... PrettyJoyBird 1 year ago (edited)
Whatever we can afford is the version we got and get. School supplies lists can be 3 pgs long. Reuse whatever is still in good condition from previous list.
Jesha 1 year ago
Rose arts really don't even get on the page well enough if at all, no lie. That's the problem. They have recycled crayolas, and I'm sure there are better off brands than rose art.
Load More Replies... Alyssa Phillips 1 year ago
They use more wax than color/dye in the production, as well as a lower quality wax. It's cheaper, but when you are coloring with them you get random spots with no color.
Load More Replies...
#38
Philly Bob Squires 1 year ago
6, 3 of my own, 1 step and 2 adopted... which means they were all close to the same age give or take a year. These are reasons I drink! LOL!
#39
Philly Bob Squires 1 year ago
I'm 66. I can remember the lyrics to 80 thousand songs, who did them, what year it was, what label it was on. My SSI number, my drivers number, and yes, a few credit card numbers, the exp date and the CVV code! Tell me your name and I'll forget it 5 seconds later. LOL!
#40
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
One boy I used to nanny went from refusing to get dressed before school to getting dressed the night before (with pjs over them) or when he woke up at 4am!
Feathered Dinosaur 1 year ago
I see who's been spanked aa a kid and 'turned out fine'
Load More Replies... #41
PattonPawter 1 year ago
“and I don’t remember the title or anything about it but the book was red”
Philly Bob Squires 1 year ago
I need 15 dozen cookies for the bake sale tomorrow! Tomorrow = Monday, tells you at 9 PM sunday night!
#42
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
I've mostly been on the teacher's side of it, and it surprises you sometimes which kids have separation anxiety. Actually, I did have to take one of the kids who I babysat for years, is basically like my cousin, to her first day of school. She was such a confident kid normally, we thought it would be easy, but when she realised I was going she had a meltdown. I think it took almost half an hour for me to be able to calm her down.
#43
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
My company requires us to use an app to record the kid's 'voice' each session and there is one kid who always needs me to remind him what he did that session, even when he has only been there for an hour. I think it's his ADHD.
#44
Philly Bob Squires 1 year ago
♫ It's the most wonderful time of the...♪ ::Dies cause my kids stabbed me with butter knife!::
#46
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
My mum always bought the supplies for the following year when they were cheap at the end of the back to school sales. Often got notebooks for 4c etc. Of course that means having to store them until then and she overbought obviously because she still has some blank ones in her house now, 7 years after my youngest sibling finished school!
PrettyJoyBird 1 year ago
Smart if you have extra rooms or closets to store in. Same for holidays and birthdays.
Load More Replies... Panda Bear 1 year ago
Being the youngest almost all of my school supplies were hand me downs. School shopping wasn’t really a thing.
#48
PrettyJoyBird 1 year ago
Now its 2 apps, text, email, ph calls, several fb pgs to keep up with it. Plus the form communications sent home in folders.
#49
Lady Miss Pie 1 year ago
Not forever. They go to college, move out. This idea that parenting is such a drudge really irks me. I always loved being a mom, and now that my daughter is an adult, it’s even better
Jessica Shookhoff 1 year ago
I don't think it's the kids so much as the random crazy expectations of the public school system. It really feels out of hand. But I agree with you. I love being a Mom! My oldest is an adult now & it's awesome as we transition from parent-child to friends. ☺️
Load More Replies...
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
That's how I feel, now I teach out of school hours care. When I was a kindergarten/preschool teacher, I only worked during the school term, now I work longer hours on the holidays!
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Dave In MD 1 year ago
All this drop off line stuff. I walked to kindergarten, bus 1st thru 3rd, walked/biked 4th to 6th. Never got dropped off by a parent.
Sophia Athene 1 year ago
I had to take the bus through 10th grade except when my mom was on maternity leave for a couple of months with my sister. Between my parents saving up and me finding ways to earn $$ wherever possible, I got a US $2000 decade old clunker sedan in high school. I couldn't wait to drive to school!!! Got the shock of my life the next morning before leaving that I had to drive my sister to school (located elsewhere) until I graduated in 2 yrs. What? Come again? She doesn't have to ride the bus for 2 years like I did at her age?!? Are you paying for part of my gas then? I got a few extra bucks. I thought about rebelling and taking the bus so she had to but I got to sleep in another 45 min by driving.
Load More Replies... Dave In MD 1 year ago
All this drop off line stuff. I walked to kindergarten, bus 1st thru 3rd, walked/biked 4th to 6th. Never got dropped off by a parent.
Sophia Athene 1 year ago
I had to take the bus through 10th grade except when my mom was on maternity leave for a couple of months with my sister. Between my parents saving up and me finding ways to earn $$ wherever possible, I got a US $2000 decade old clunker sedan in high school. I couldn't wait to drive to school!!! Got the shock of my life the next morning before leaving that I had to drive my sister to school (located elsewhere) until I graduated in 2 yrs. What? Come again? She doesn't have to ride the bus for 2 years like I did at her age?!? Are you paying for part of my gas then? I got a few extra bucks. I thought about rebelling and taking the bus so she had to but I got to sleep in another 45 min by driving.
Load More Replies... You May Like “Because I Was Born Male”: 36 Cases Where Parents Dislike Or Actually Hate Their Kids 72 Parenting Tips To Do Better For Your Kids 30 Maternity Ward Workers Share The Worst Cases Of “You Shouldn’t Be A Parent” They’ve Ever Seen
Dominyka Proškėnaitė
Larysa Perih
Ilona Baliūnaitė
Related on Bored Panda
